UGANDA, Kampala | Real Muloodi News | The quiet lawns of the Uganda Military Engineers College in Lugazi came alive with ceremony as 124 soldiers from the UPDF Engineers Brigade concluded an intensive course in land law and estate management.
For a force that oversees vast tracts of land and handles some of the country’s most complex construction and engineering projects, the graduation marked more than a milestone — it signaled a shift toward deeper professionalism in managing military estates.
The presiding officer, Col Dr Eng Charles Muhigirwa, stressed the weight of responsibility carried by UPDF engineers. Speaking to the graduates, he reminded them that the army’s land is not merely acreage on paper but a foundation on which barracks, training grounds, schools and community projects stand.
“Engineers handle a significant share of the force’s land management duties,” he said. “Without a clear understanding of the laws governing ownership and use, even the best project can collapse under legal challenges.”
His message reflected real challenges the army has faced. Internal land disputes, delayed projects and misunderstandings with surrounding communities have occasionally disrupted military operations. Muhigirwa noted that many of these problems stem not from ill intent but from limited familiarity with land policy.
“When we lack knowledge, we create openings for conflict, financial loss and displacement,” he warned. “This training is meant to close those gaps.”
The course, designed jointly by UMEC instructors and the Legal Training Centre, gave soldiers practical grounding in land acquisition procedures, estate administration, lawful use and the intricacies of Uganda’s land laws. Col Susan Mwanga, who heads the Legal Training Centre, said the programme was tailored to the real pressures engineers face on the ground.
“We wanted them to leave not just with theory but with clarity,” she explained. “They must know what is permissible, what is required, and how to safeguard the institution from unnecessary disputes.”
Mwanga expressed confidence that the training would strengthen accountability and compliance within the force.
“This is how we reduce land-related conflicts,” she said. “By equipping our personnel with the knowledge to act confidently and lawfully.”
The graduation was attended by senior commanders and instructors from across the Lugazi cantonment, many of whom praised the officers for their discipline throughout the course.
As the soldiers marched out, certificates in hand, there was a sense that the UPDF had invested not just in their education, but in the integrity and sustainability of its future developments.
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