The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Mountain Division received high-tech equipment from the French Military to boost its operations focused on restoring peace in the Rwenzori region and throughout Uganda.
The equipment was handed over following a joint training program between UPDF and French military officers at the Mountain Division Headquarters in Muhooti Barracks in Kasese.
Brig Gen Paul Muwonge, the Deputy Division Commander received the equipment on behalf of the Division Commander and commended the French military for not only donating the advanced technology but also providing training to UPDF personnel. “This training program, initiated and supported by the French military, is a testament to the strong bilateral relations between Uganda and France, and the excellent cooperation between our two-armed forces,” Brig Gen Muwonge said.
Brig Gen Muwonge noted that the advanced technology will significantly enhance the operational capabilities of the UPDF, particularly in mountainous terrain.
He emphasized the importance of the training-of-trainers (ToTs) approach, explaining that the trained officers will be instrumental in cascading the knowledge to more personnel across the division.
Speaking at the ceremony, the French Defence Attaché to Uganda, Lt Col Yann Chollette, acknowledged the challenging environment in which the Mountain Division operates, likening it to conditions faced by French troops combating terrorism and insurgency in similar terrain.
Maj Jeannot, the chief trainer from the French Army, urged the graduates to share the skills acquired with their fellow officers to broaden the force’s operational knowledge.
The ceremony was attended by the Defence Attaché Office staff, French trainers, and senior officers from the Mountain Division.
