The Commander of the Special Forces Command (SFC), Maj Gen Asaph Mweteise Nyakikuru, has commissioned a series of infrastructure projects worth Shs3.36 billion at the Special Warfare Centre and School, Camp Rufu, in Ruhengyere, Kiruhura District.
Maj Gen Nyakikuru commissioned the facilities on behalf of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
The projects include Camp Rufu Barracks, a Quarter Guard, Ruhengyere Army Primary School, Senior Non-Commissioned Officers’ (NCOs) quarters, the Commander’s House, Officers’ Mess, Rwigyema and Kainerugaba dormitories, and the Museveni Auditorium Hall.
According to the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MODVA), the projects were implemented at a total cost of Shs3,361,593,220.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Maj Gen Nyakikuru commended Gen Kainerugaba for his commitment to improving soldiers’ welfare and strengthening the operational capacity of the UPDF.
He noted that providing soldiers with decent accommodation and essential facilities boosts morale, enhances discipline and improves operational readiness.
” A well-catered-for soldier is expected to maintain operational readiness since his morale to work is high,” he said.
The SFC Commander particularly emphasised the importance of NCOs’ welfare, describing it as a critical pillar of military professionalism, discipline and mentorship.
He said NCOs play a vital role in bridging the gap between commanders and troops, maintaining military standards and ensuring that commanders’ instructions are effectively translated into action.
Turning to the Special Forces Group personnel, Maj Gen Nyakikuru cautioned that infrastructure alone cannot guarantee an effective fighting force, stressing that soldiers remain the military’s most important asset.
“I want to remind you that infrastructure alone does not create an effective fighting force. Our greatest asset remains the personnel, the humans, that is the soldiers, because one general said humans are more important than hardware. So our main asset here is personnel,” he said.
He urged the troops to continue investing in realistic training, physical fitness, tactical proficiency, leadership, discipline and teamwork to sustain a high level of combat readiness.
He also challenged commanders to lead by example and ensure that every soldier understands their responsibilities in accomplishing assigned missions.
On the maintenance of the newly commissioned facilities, Maj Gen Nyakikura called on the troops to protect and utilise the infrastructure responsibly, noting that completing a project does not end the responsibility of those entrusted with it.
“The completion of a project is not the end of our responsibility. I therefore expect you to protect, maintain and utilise these facilities responsibly,” he said.
He explained that the projects were funded through the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, channelled through the Special Forces Command, and supplemented by savings generated within the command.
He attributed the achievement to proper planning, teamwork, prudent resource management and the commitment of personnel.
Maj Gen Nyakikura further underscored the relationship between soldiers’ welfare and military effectiveness, saying decent living conditions enable troops to train effectively, remain motivated and respond appropriately to operational demands.
He also commended the construction committee and civilian engineers for their dedication and prudent management of resources.
The SFC Commander revealed plans to introduce vertical construction at Camp Rufu to maximise the use of the available land.
UPDF leadership hails infrastructure development
The Commander of the 2 Infantry Division, Maj Gen Paul Muhanguzi, commended the SFC leadership for the completed projects, describing them as evidence of the UPDF’s progress in improving both combat readiness and soldiers’ accommodation.
He praised President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF, and Gen Kainerugaba for their leadership and commitment to transforming the force, particularly in the areas of welfare and military training.
“Moving from Mama Yingiya Pole, also known as ‘enter slowly’, to better housing facilities is hinged on the guidance and goodwill of our current leaders,” he said.
Maj Gen Muhanguzi explained that improvements in soldiers’ welfare had previously faced competing priorities, noting that the UPDF first had to prioritise securing the country before focusing on other development interventions.
He also applauded the military leadership for decentralising training activities, saying the move had significantly reduced the backlog of Senior and Junior Non-Commissioned Officers awaiting training.
The Commander of the 2 Special Forces Group, Col Jimmy Mukuba Kabila, described the new infrastructure as a major morale booster for troops at Camp Rufu.
He said the facilities would not make combatants complacent but instead provide an enabling environment for them to become more effective and better prepared for complex military operations.
Col Kabila thanked the UPDF leadership for building a professional, disciplined and sophisticated force, adding that the Special Forces remained prepared to undertake complex missions in an evolving operational environment.
“We remain ready and committed for complex battle missions in an evolving field battle environment,” he said.
The Acting Joint Staff Engineer Brigade, Col James Rwegaba, commended the CDF for supporting infrastructure development across UPDF units and formations.
He also acknowledged the leadership’s support towards the construction of the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs headquarters, which he said was scheduled for commissioning in December 2025.
Col Rwegaba disclosed that the UPDF Engineers Brigade was undertaking more than 500 construction projects across the country in line with a Presidential Directive assigning the force a role in constructing education and health facilities.
He said the ongoing infrastructure developments across SFC units demonstrated value for money but acknowledged that budgetary constraints remained a challenge in addressing soldiers’ accommodation needs.
The LC V Chairman of Kiruhura District, Dan Mukago, commended the UPDF for maintaining peace and security, saying stability had created an enabling environment for development.
He cited the Camp Rufu infrastructure projects as an example of development taking place in the district.
The ceremony was attended by the Commander of the 5 Infantry Division, Maj Gen Keith Katungi; service chiefs and their deputies; general officers; SFC group commanders; senior and junior officers; Members of Parliament; local leaders and other UPDF personnel.
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