The Chief of Defence Forces of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Gen David Muhoozi has commissioned the newly completed 9 blocks for Senior Non- Commissioned Officers’ houses, senior officers’ Mess, Stores and communication Centre.
He further laid a brick to the resumption of new works on the 5 blocks of the officer’s houses.
Gen Muhoozi while commissioning the new infrastructure at Singo said that this shows an improvement and gradual shift from the known mud houses (mama yingiya pole) to modern houses.
“As UPDF we have priorities, now we are directing all the efforts to the welfare of our soldiers,” he noted.
He further said; “To me it’s a double joy that this has come at the time we are celebrating 39 years as the Army, this shows we are growing militarily,” Gen Muhoozi remarked.
He thanked all those who have made this success possible singling out the joint Chief of staff (JCOS) Lt Gen Joseph Musanyufu, the PSO Singo staff particularly Brig Bakasumba who started the project and finally the Engineering brigade which has done the construction.
Muhoozi noted that this had failed until he resorted to Direct Labor Policy in 2015 which has seen the project partially concluded.
He mentioned of other projects in 2Division and Nakasongola under the same policy.
Gen Muhoozi asked the users to maintain the buildings so that they stay useful for a good period of time.
The Joint Chief of Staff (JCOS) Lt Gen Joseph Musanyufu said this is one of the steps achieved in development as UPDF.
“This Direct labour policy was passed in the 2014/15 FY, it’s a direct labour by our Engineers without using constructors. This has shown that its possible so maintain the pace,” he said
The 30,000-housing project will be funded by the government but it will find UPDF along the way as the institution to use its own resources.
The Commandant’s Peace Support Operations Training Centre, Col Walimbwa thanked the CDF for honouring the function and also thanked him for the infrastructural development support which he says has added value to the training and welfare of the school.
Col Walimbwa said, this means no more environmental degradation, more time and concentration of the trainees since now there is no more looking for grass for construction and repairs, safe storage of school food and other facilities.
The Commandant pledged to preserve and maintain the infrastructure.
He told the officers that it’s their duty to preserve and maintain them for the future generations.
He thanked the UPDF strategic leadership for the wise decision and the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MODVA) for the support, the Wanaichi for cheap labour and materials for the project and finally the Engineering brigade for the good work.
