Serve Country by Protecting People and Property, LDUs Urged

The UPDF 5 Infantry Division Commander Brig Gen Keith Katungi jas urged the newly deployed LDUs under 5 Infantry Division to serve their country by protecting people and their property.

This was during his welcome remarks to the LDUs deployed to serve under 5 Infantry Division at Labwodong Training School in Agago district today.“The primary role of soldiers is to serve the people of Uganda by protecting them and their property as part of our constitutional mandate," Brig Gen Katungi said.

The 5 Infantry Division commander told the LDUs that the oath of allegiance they took while being passed out at Kaweweta Training School if followed properly to the dot, would guide them throughout their military career.

He elaborated that training is a continuous process in the Army, and the reason they were in Labwodong was to ensure the sustainability of the army.

Brig Gen Katungi noted that Uganda is largely peaceful apart from isolated incidents from the ADF and livestock theft in the Karamoja sub-region.

He added that although the country is peaceful, Africa as a continent is not peaceful and that’s the reason UPDF has crossed borders to help other countries in the spirit of Pan-Africanism.

He further implored them not to let the country go back to its dark past, adding that they will be taken through two months of orientation training meant to reorganize and acclimatize them into this formation, ready to be deployed to do army work.

The Division Commander also cautioned them not to lead promiscuous lives by protecting themselves against HIV/AIDS scourge. “It’s only the healthy and physically fit who can defend their country and live longer to see the fruits of their sweat,” Brig Gen Katungi emphasized.

He concluded by noting that ideological clarity is key among troops if they are to be good soldiers.