UPDF Commissions Modern Auditorium At Singo With Support From US Government

By: Jengo Eria

The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) 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 Mr Phillip Palmer, Director of GPOI.

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.

Brig Gen John Patrick Otongo, Commandant of IPSO TC, commended the engineering teams for their commitment to completing the facility. He acknowledged the vital roles of Lt Gen Bakasumba and Mr Palmer, who first conceived the idea for the auditorium in 2018. He further thanked the U.S. government for its extensive contributions to the UPDF, particularly in infrastructure and equipment development.

Representing the U.S. government, Lt Col Chris Noumba, Defence Attaché to Uganda, 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, including Brig Gen Wycliffe Keita (Joint Staff – Training and Doctrine), Brig Gen Edward Mutaawe (Director of Human Resource Management – Land Force), Brig Gen Michael Ssesanga (Commandant, Non-Commissioned Officers Academy), Ms Naomi Doreen (Deputy Director for Africa Programs at GPOI), Maj Aaron Kuiper (Chief of Security Cooperation), and Mr Curtis Crum (Senior Peacekeeping Advisor), among others.