Museveni Roars: “UPDF Is Africa’s Peace Machine –Inside Graduation Glitz, Military Might & Pan-African Power at Uganda’s National Defence College

Buikwe, Uganda – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni brought fire and flair to the National Defence College-Uganda (NDC-U) on Friday turning the institution’s third graduation ceremony into a bold declaration of Uganda’s rising military clout across Africa.

With commanding presence and unapologetic confidence, the President hailed the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) as the backbone of Africa’s security, proudly declaring, “Uganda is not just defending itself , we are exporting peace. And we’re doing it without borrowed dollars, but with our own grit!”

Museveni, who doubles as the Commander-in-Chief, praised the UPDF for establishing institutions like NDC-U that are turning soldiers into thinkers and shaping a new generation of ideologically grounded, strategically trained leaders.

The ceremony saw 22 senior officers and one civilian complete the rigorous National Security and Strategic Studies course.

Among the graduates were trailblazers like Brig Gen. Charity Bainababo and Col. Betty Musuya, as well as civilian policy analyst Ronnie Smurts Amoro, whose research on Uganda’s health sector drew wide acclaim.

But Museveni wasn’t there just to hand out certificates.He used the platform to take a swing at African leadership, accusing many regimes of making “philosophical, strategic and ideological mistakes” that have crippled progress and peace.

He warned that ignoring principles such as patriotism, pan-Africanism, and the role of the private sector has left many African nations floundering.

“Africa’s problems aren’t natural disasters,” he said. “They’re man-made mistakes.” His message to the military educators was clear: train soldiers to think, to question, and to understand the world beyond the battlefield.

The National Defence College, founded in 2021 and officially opened in 2022, has rapidly risen to prominence as a “thinking tank in uniform,” offering senior officers and selected civilians advanced training in warfare, security strategy, politics, economics, and governance.

The Commandant, Brig Gen. Alex Opolot Olupot, noted that the graduates had not only completed the National Security and Strategic Studies course but had also passed the first part of a Master’s program in Security Strategy from Makerere University.

Their next step will be to complete research papers to qualify for the degree.

During the ceremony, Col. Ronald Mulindwa Nangamba was awarded for overall academic excellence, followed closely by Col. Henry Okumu Obbo.

Civilian graduate Ronnie Smurts Amoro received special recognition for his outstanding contribution to strategic studies, with his paper critically examining Uganda’s health service delivery from 1986 to 2024.

Another standout was Col. Nicholas Humble Nyesiga, whose research focused on the African peace and security architecture.

Looking ahead, Defence Minister Jacob Oboth Oboth unveiled bold plans to establish a full-fledged National Defence University.

Oboth described it as the next logical step in consolidating Uganda’s military education system, promoting innovation, and enhancing research and development in security-related fields.

The envisioned university would offer high-level courses to personnel from across government ministries, departments, and agencies.

The President also touched on East African integration, revealing that the business community is now pushing for infrastructure development — specifically tarmacked roads — to ease trade across borders.

“Our traders are now demanding this integration become a reality,” Museveni said, signaling growing grassroots support for regional unity.

The event was attended by top defence officials and senior government leaders including the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding, who applauded the President for his “visionary leadership.”

Gen Okiding called on the graduates to confront national challenges such as corruption head-on and to embody the values of discipline and service.

Also present were Minister of State for Defence and Veteran Affairs Huda Oleru, Defence Ministry Permanent Secretary Rosette Byengoma, and Buikwe Woman MP Hon. Diana Mutasingwa, among others.