Gen Edward Katumba Wamala, the Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) has revealed that the country will develop an efficient, effective and capable air defence system in order to guard against her enemies.
Gen Katumba Wamala says vital resources such as oil makes Uganda vulnerable to attacks from its enemies unless it invest to improve its capability in order to wade off such attacks.
Gen Katumba was today addressing 20 newly passed out pilots at the Gulu Airforce base. Katumba observed that with fast changing technology which is increasingly getting sophisticated, technological advancement in air defence system is a reality which Uganda cannot afford not to adapt to.
He stressed that Uganda must be prepared to defend its airspace as oil exploration will soon kick off. The army chief revealed that the army is taking advantage of the prevailing peace to train highly skilled officers capable of inflicting maximum damage on enemies.
The army chief further stressed that despite resource challenges, Uganda will continue to build a strong force with the ability to protect countrys’ boundary. The training of the pilots, the army boss said, is the right step in the direction of the army improving on its capabilities.
The bunch of 20 pilots including a female– Jacinta Kamuhaga, and 30 aircraft technicians is the first to be domestically trained. They are expected to be commissioned by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces on a date yet to be announced.
Undersecretary in the Ministry of Defence who is in-charge of Airforce, James Mutabazi said government through Civil Aviation Authorities (CAA) will procure and install modern equipment for airforce bases in the country.
The Air force boss Brig Samuel Turyagenda who was also present at the function noted that the graduates will fill in the manpower gap that was facing the branch of the armed forces.
He also called on the newly trained officers to maintain discipline so that they can serve well.
