The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has officially passed out a new cohort of explosive ordnance disposal technicians, counter-improvised explosive device specialists, and combat engineers from Intake 4/2026 at the School of Combat Engineering in Kalama.
Presiding over the ceremony, Brigadier General Richard Wakayinja, Commander of the 14 Combat Engineering Brigade, addressed the graduates regarding the changing realities of contemporary armed conflict. He pointed out that modern battlefields have largely transitioned away from traditional, face-to-face engagements toward asymmetric warfare tactics, where hidden hazards and roadside bombs pose persistent dangers to military personnel.
“The war theatre is now littered with IEDs. It is no longer conventional but asymmetrical,” Brigadier General Wakayinja stated during his address to the newly certified troops. He praised the service members for maintaining high levels of resilience and dedication throughout the rigorous, physically demanding training syllabus.
The Evolving Role of Combat Engineers in Modern Operations
Military leadership at the event emphasized that specialized engineering units remain vital to the execution and success of modern tactical maneuvers. Addressing the newly passed-out personnel, Brigadier General Peter Candia, Commandant of the Mechanised Warfare College, underscored the critical responsibilities that fall upon combat engineers during active operations.
“Like you have shown us and like I have just said, you will be the first in the battle to open the way and will be the last to leave, in addition to ensuring the survivability of the troops and the task forces,” Brigadier General Candia remarked. He also stressed the importance of operational safety and personal well-being, noting that the ultimate survival of engineering specialists is paramount to maintaining institutional capability.
“The contemporary battlefield is mainly fought now by you. Through you, task forces will survive. Through you, task forces will delay, fix and destroy our enemies. You keep safe. UPDF and Uganda need your life,” Brigadier General Candia told the assembled graduates.
Rigorous Technical Training and Safety Protocols
According to military briefs from the School of Combat Engineering, the coursework covered a comprehensive spectrum of specialized subjects, including explosive theory, controlled demolitions, counter-IED strategies, tactical combat casualty care, military law, global positioning system navigation, and extensive practical field exercises.
Lieutenant Colonel Jackson Akena, Acting Chief Instructor at the school, used the ceremony to reinforce the core operational dogma instilled in the trainees throughout their course. He reminded the newly minted specialists that meticulous adherence to safety guidelines supersedes operational haste when handling unstable materials.
“I always tell you this; remember speed is not important, but accuracy and safety are,” Lieutenant Colonel Akena noted.
Senior and junior UPDF officers joined military instructors at Kalama to observe the pass-out parade. Leadership urged the graduates to carry the values of teamwork, leadership, patriotism, and personal integrity forward as they transition into active military units across the country’s defense architecture.
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