The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) has today received a state-of-the-art auditorium at the International Peace Support Operations Training Centre (IPSO TC) in Singo, constructed by the United States government under the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI).
The facility was officially handed over by Director of Global Peace Operations Initiative Palmer Phillip.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, the UPDF Chief of Joint Staff, Lt Gen Jack Bakasumba, expressed gratitude to the U.S. government for its enduring support, particularly in promoting peace and combating terrorism in the region and beyond.
“This partnership with the United States, which dates back to 2007, has significantly strengthened our capacity in foreign missions,” Lt Gen Bakasumba said.
He reaffirmed Uganda’s dedication to international peace, stressing the UPDF’s readiness to deploy wherever required.
The Commandant of International Peace Support Operations Training Centre Brig Gen John Patrick Otongo commended the engineering teams for their commitment to completing the facility and acknowledged the vital roles of Lt Gen Bakasumba and Palmer, who first conceived the idea for the auditorium in 2018.
Brig Gen Otongo further thanked the U.S. government for its extensive contributions to the UPDF, particularly in infrastructure and equipment development.
The US Defence Attaché to Uganda, Lt Col Chris Noumba, who represented the US government at the event hailed the handover as a significant milestone in strengthening military-to-military cooperation.
“This auditorium reflects the strong ties between our two countries and Uganda’s unwavering role in advancing global peace,” He said.
The ceremony was attended by senior UPDF officers who included the Joint Staff in Charge of Training and Doctrine Brig Gen Wycliffe Keita, the Director of Human Resource Management Land Forces Brig Gen Edward Mutaawe, the Commandant, Non-Commissioned Officers Academy Brig Gen Micheal Ssesanga, the Deputy Director for Africa Programs at Global Peace Operations Initiative Ms Naomi Doreen, the Chief of Security Cooperation Maj Aaron Kuiper and Curtis Crum the Senior Peacekeeping Advisor among others.
