Japan instructors have embarked on training of Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers on the use of Heavy Engineering Equipment operations.
The course currently ongoing at the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Centre(URDCC) is aimed at enhancing UPDF’s capability in operating heavy equipments whenever deployed in any mission around the world.
It is a United Nations Triangular Partnership (TTP) project with the Government of Japan and Uganda newly introduced to the UN Peace keeping Operations to close the gap that has always delayed UN deployments while processing contractors to construct critical infrastructure in the area of operation.
The TPP project was formed in 2015 with an aim strengthening the capabilities of peace support troop contributing countries.
The initiative comprises five countries namely Japan, Israel, Brazil, Switzerland, and Uganda who share both training skills and equipment in preparation of successful peace support operations.
The Japanese Army instructors numbering to 22 from the Japanese Engineering and transport Unit will initially train 30 UPDF soldiers for a period of 03 months before they are handed back to the UPDF leadership for possible deployment into any UN mission across the world.
While officially opening the training the ambassador of Japan to Uganda Kameda Kazuaki said this is the first ever Japan military cooperation extended to Uganda with its troops on ground.
He also revealed that the training and eventual acquisition of equipment by the UPDF is as a result of the friendship and mutual support the government of Uganda has developed with the government of Japan over time.
“President Yoweri Museveni has overtime appreciated the reliability and efficiency of the Japanese technology and that is why we have found it easy and befitting to support the UPDF through this partnership with UN to promote peace and security around the Globe”, said Amb. Kameda.
According to Kameda, East Africa and the entire continental Africa has had enormous challenges that has attracted the biggest number of UN missions and therefore it is imperative to have Uganda trained to enable its troops be self-reliant whenever they are deployed.
The government of Japan has spent over 70million USD for training and equipment procurement.
Uganda’s Defence Adviser to Uganda’s Permanent Mission in NewYork Maj General Silver Kayemba noted that the project is divided into phases; the training phase, Equipment Acquisition Phase and the deployment phase.
He assured the Japanese and UN that the UPDF trainees have been carefully selected, vetted and up to observing the UN standards of observing Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.
He cautioned the trainees to be disciplined or else they meet him as a witness in the court martial in case they fall short of discipline.
Maj Gen Silver Kayemba equally announced the commitment of the Uganda government to providing UN One Company of Special Forces, One Infantry Battalion, One Engineering Company and a level II hospital Medical team for any UN deployment around the world with no Caveat and that their deployment can be renewed between six months to one year.
CN/abj/APA