UPDF has hosted delegates from the East African Community and Malawi for a short course in School of Legal Training Centre (LTC) Jinja.
The course is facilitated by officials from International Institute of Humanitarian Law (IIHL) and is slated to run for one week.
The Minister of state for Defense and General Duties Hon Col.Rtd Okello Engola Charles who officiated at the course opening, congratulated the Ministry Of Defense on hosting such a prestigious course.
He however hoped that the course would be expanded to train all African countries in issues of peace keeping and security.
He further saluted the dedicated leadership of Uganda in their committment to sustain peace and security, and also asked the participants to come up with their own solutions to the problems plaguing the region.
The Ambassador of Netherlands to Uganda, His Excellency Henk Jan Bakker, one of the sponsors of the course, stated that conflict is always there and the law is always needed to achieve the peace keeping goal in consideration with the international Criminal Courts.
He went ahead to encourage the participants to keep in touch with one another and share experiences as one Africa. He added that Netherlands has interests in peace keeping because of their historical background of conflict and conflict resolution.
Colonel Dr. Godard Busingye, the UPDF Deputy Chief of Legal Services, who is also the course director, said he was honored to host the course which usually takes place in IIHL in San Remo in Italy.
This is the first time the course is being held in Africa.
However, he stated that there are few challenges, one such being accommodation. He said although the available dormitories are not up standard to host delegates, they working with the Dutch Engineering Brigade to construct better dormitories.
The course attracted 26 military legal officers from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan Tanzania, Uganda the host and Brig Prof Dan Kuwaii the chief of legal services in Malawi Defence Forces who is a facilitator to the course.
