By Karim Were
KAMPALA — The Special Forces Command (SFC) has emerged overall winner of the second edition of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Chief of Defence Forces Inter-Forces Drill Competition held at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.
The 2026 competition, which concluded on Wednesday, brought together personnel from different UPDF formations and tested their proficiency in military drill, including foot drill, sword drill, cane drill and marching routines.
The 3rd Infantry Division finished second in the competition.
In remarks delivered on his behalf by Deputy Chief of Defence Forces and Inspector General of the UPDF, Lt Gen Sam Okiding, Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba commended the participating formations for what he described as significant improvement compared with the inaugural competition.
He said lessons drawn from the first edition had contributed to better precision, coordination and cohesion among the participating teams.
Gen Kainerugaba said military drill goes beyond ceremonial displays, arguing that the discipline acquired on the parade ground contributes to operational effectiveness.
He pointed to attention to detail, prompt execution of commands and adherence to military doctrine as some of the qualities developed through regular drill training.
According to the CDF, such skills are important for the UPDF as it undertakes its responsibilities in Uganda and participates in regional and international security operations.
#Drill linked to operational readiness
The competition was presented as part of the UPDF’s broader efforts to strengthen discipline, teamwork and operational preparedness among its personnel.
The CDF said the standards demonstrated during the competition showed the progress being made by the force since the inaugural edition.
He also linked the discipline acquired through drill to the UPDF’s participation in missions and security operations in areas including the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Somalia.
The emphasis on discipline and coordinated movement, he said, is intended to reinforce soldiers’ ability to respond promptly and effectively to commands in operational environments.
The event therefore served both a ceremonial and professional purpose, allowing formations to assess their standards while encouraging healthy competition within the military.
#CDF reaffirms UPDF’s national role
Gen Kainerugaba also reaffirmed the UPDF’s identity as a “people’s army”, highlighting its contribution to national defence and other activities supporting Uganda’s development.
He cited the military’s involvement in areas such as infrastructure development and fisheries regulation as part of its wider contribution to national priorities.
The CDF attributed the transformation of the National Resistance Army (NRA) into the modern UPDF to the leadership of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
He described the President’s leadership as instrumental in the development of the force and its professionalisation over the years.
The remarks placed the drill competition within the wider context of building a disciplined and professional military capable of responding to Uganda’s security requirements.
#Defence minister praises discipline
The Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs also praised President Museveni and the CDF for what he described as efforts to build a respected and capable military.
He said events such as the inter-forces drill competition were important because they continuously test and sharpen military standards.
The minister described drill as a foundation for discipline, teamwork, immediate obedience to commands and endurance.
He argued that precision demonstrated on the parade ground should ultimately translate into effective performance during military operations, including battlefield duties, national defence assignments and peace-support missions.
The minister also linked military discipline to relations between the armed forces and civilians.
He said public confidence and respect for the UPDF depend partly on soldiers demonstrating discipline and unity in their conduct.
#UPDF values emphasised
The Minister reiterated the importance of the UPDF’s core values of **Patriotism, Discipline, Pan-Africanism and Professionalism.
He described these principles as essential to maintaining cohesion within the force and safeguarding it against conduct that could undermine national security.
The emphasis on discipline was particularly prominent throughout the competition, with officials stressing that military professionalism must be reflected both during formal ceremonies and in operational duties.
The minister said the values should continue to guide members of the force in their interaction with fellow soldiers, civilians and other security institutions.
#Fair judging
The competition was evaluated using standardised scoring criteria, according to Chief Judge Lt Gen (Rtd) Nakibus Lakara.
He said universal parameters were applied to all participating formations during the assessment process.
The use of common standards was intended to ensure that teams were judged on the same criteria and that the final results reflected their performance during the different drill categories.
The judging covered the various elements of military drill presented by the participating formations.
The outcome saw SFC take the overall title, with the 3rd Infantry Division finishing as runner-up.
#Training and doctrine
Implementation Committee Chairman Maj Gen Wycliffe Keita, who also serves as Chief of UPDF Training and Doctrine, commended the leadership of the force for supporting the competition.
Maj Gen Keita said regular parade-square practice has a direct relationship with military preparedness.
He emphasised that repeated drill practice helps soldiers develop the ability to respond quickly to commands while maintaining coordination with other members of their units.
Such qualities are important in military operations, where discipline, timing and coordinated action can affect the success of an assignment.
The competition consequently provided an opportunity for the UPDF to assess how effectively its formations are maintaining established drill standards.
#Broad attendance
The event attracted senior government and security officials, including Cabinet ministers, senior UPDF officers and representatives from sister security agencies.
Representatives from the Uganda Police Force, Uganda Prisons Service and the External Security Organisation were among those who attended.
Members and representatives of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) also attended, alongside members of the public.
Their presence reflected the public and institutional interest in an event designed to showcase military discipline and professionalism.
#Building a professional force
The second edition of the CDF Inter-Forces Drill Competition comes as the UPDF continues to emphasise training, discipline and professional development across its formations.
Military drill has traditionally been used to instil discipline and coordination among service personnel. In modern armed forces, these qualities remain relevant even as military training increasingly incorporates technology, specialised skills and complex operational requirements.
For the UPDF, officials said the competition provides an additional platform through which formations can measure their standards and learn from one another.
The improvement noted by the CDF between the inaugural and second editions also suggests that the competition is becoming part of the force’s continuing training and evaluation programmes.
#Conclusion
The victory by the Special Forces Command at the second CDF Inter-Forces Drill Competition has highlighted the emphasis the UPDF continues to place on discipline, precision and coordinated action.
Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s commendation of the participants also underscored the military leadership’s expectation that the standards displayed during drill competitions should extend into operational duties.
As the UPDF continues to undertake national and regional security responsibilities, commanders say the discipline and teamwork developed through training remain central to maintaining an effective professional force.
The competition therefore ended not only with SFC taking the top prize, but also with renewed emphasis on the principle that military precision begins with disciplined preparation.
**Source:🇺🇬 Be Blessed
