Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision (Kampala) - December 9, 2006
Steven Candia
Speaking at the Friday graduation of 41 senior army officers from the Senior Command and Staff College Kimaka, defence minister Dr. Crispus Kiyonga urged the soldiers to guard against HIV/AIDS.
"HIV/AIDS is an enemy to the NRM revolution and the people of Africa It has not spared professors and generals," he said.
As Africa grapples with a host of problems like poverty, disease, low levels of technology and education and the weak defence and security system, Kiyonga said, the AIDS scourge should be taken seriously.
He said in order to develop, African nations need peace and stability, which could only be built by security systems.
Kiyonga noted that some issues pertaining to the fight against the HIV/AIDS were still unresolved by the UPDF leadership.
These include whether in addition to voluntary testing and counselling, serving officers should be subjected to regular testing and counselling, whether the condom should become part of a soldier's package and whether HIV/AIDS issues should be included in the UPDF training syllabus.
Of the 41 soldiers who have been undergoing 11 months of leadership training at the college, two were from the Sudan, two from Tanzania, one from Kenya and the rest from Uganda.
This is the second batch to graduate from the college. The commandant of the college, Maj. Gen. Benon Biraro, said the third intake had already reported.
Participants from the first intake, among them Lt. Gen. Salim Saleh and defence permanent secretary Brig. Noble Mayombo were conferred college badges.
Lt. Col. Jack Bakasumba emerged best overall student and scooped another award in the commandant's research paper category.
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