Parliament's Defence and Internal Affairs Committee is assessing the quality and relevance of training in Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (UPDF) institutions, including staffing, infrastructure, curricula and instructor-to-trainee ratios.
The assessment is part of a nationwide inspection of UPDF establishments and took the committee to the National Defence College-Uganda (NDC-U) in Jinja on Tuesday.
Committee chairperson Robinah Rwakojo Gureme said the inspection of NDC-U would establish whether the institution's training meets the needs of Uganda's defence and security sector.
"For NDC, it is to assess the quality and accuracy of training offered at the UPDF training institutions, including infrastructure, staffing levels, curriculum and instructor-training ratios," Rwakojo said.
Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn
The committee has been split into two teams to inspect different UPDF establishments across the country before reconvening to consolidate its findings.
The findings will form part of a report and recommendations to be presented to Parliament.
NDC-U Commandant Brig Gen Alex Olupot said the inspection provides an opportunity for the college to account for its work and receive recommendations from Parliament.
He said Parliament's involvement was important in ensuring effective use of public resources allocated to the defence and security sector.
"Your presence here is a demonstration of the importance that the Parliament of Uganda attaches to national defence, security, professional military education and the effective use of public resources entrusted to the defence and security sector," Olupot said.
NDC-U trains senior military officers and other national leaders in strategic analysis and decision-making on complex national security and development issues.
Olupot said the college is also expanding its academic programmes, research and strategic studies while developing partnerships with universities, defence institutions and other strategic organisations locally and internationally.
"Our mandate goes beyond military education. We seek to develop strategic leaders capable of analysing complex national issues from a whole-of-government and whole-of-society perspective," he said.
