Maj Gen. Sserunkuma Urges Officers To Prioritise Troop Welfare

What the report says

Maj. Gen. Wilberforce Sserunkuma, the commander of Uganda’s 4 Infantry Division, has called on officers to put troop welfare and well-being at the centre of leadership. According to Watchdog Uganda, he delivered the remarks during a lecture of opportunity for officers attending the Platoon Commanders Course at the 4 Infantry Division Training School in Lugore, Gulu District.

Sserunkuma told the trainees that commanders should pay attention to the conditions that affect soldiers’ morale, arguing that a motivated force is better placed to carry out tactical missions. He also stressed discipline as a core expectation in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, saying officers should lead by example because soldiers are more likely to follow conduct than instruction alone.

The school’s commandant, Lt. Col. Charles Okech, said the course is intended to prepare trainees for leadership responsibilities in commanding, controlling and administering platoons and companies. He added that the programme combines military knowledge, tactical training and ideological orientation grounded in UPDF values.

The report also noted that the training school is running other programmes, including special arms training for newly passed-out militants. The message reflects a broader military leadership emphasis on morale, discipline and unit cohesion as key factors in operational readiness.