COMMENT , Wednesday, March 1, 2017 17

Maj. Chris Magezi, publicist Why the Special Forces bear Gen. Kainerugaba’s legacy

owards the close of a powerful and versatile special to decisive combat operations “Special Forces” were in fact para- January 9, the President operations force that is situated against the insurgents of the Lord’s military forces that were formed for and Commander-in- within the unique Ugandan way Resistance Army (or more aptly the political reasons. Chief of the armed of war and is responsive to the ‘Devil’s Resistance Army’) in northern Therefore, those so-called “Special forces, Gen. Yoweri requirements of the UPDF and the and the Allied Democratic Forces” were consequently behind Museveni, announced nation.” No one has encapsulated Forces in western Uganda/DR Congo. some of the most heinous and extra- wideT ranging changes in the and granted greater meaning to this Key development infrastructure judicial killings ever witnessed in command structure of the UPDF. objective in the context and history projects, especially training schools the political and military history of Gen. Edward , of the Ugandan Special Forces than and accommodation facilities Uganda. This is a far cry from actual an officer with 37 years of military General Kainerugaba. necessary for sustained institutional Special Forces organisations. service, was transferred to the Under his command, the SFC growth and stability have been the In purely military and operational Ministry of Works and replaced has grown tremendously in hallmark of Gen. Kainerugaba’s terms, special operations (conducted by Gen. , who was organisation, competence and tenure as commander. by special operations forces) promoted from Major General and lethality so much so that today it The Special Forces now boasts of are characterised as operations moved from his previous position as is recognised as a strategic and three fully fledged training institutions conducted in hostile, denied or the Commander of the Land Forces indispensable element available to the that will serve Uganda’s future Special politically sensitive environments to Chief of the Defence Forces (CDF), military leadership and the defense Under Maj. Forces operators for a long time. to achieve military, diplomatic, Uganda’s highest military office. forces in military operations. These are Fort Kasenyi in Entebbe informational and economic As well as the CDF, the President Indeed, the entry of the Special for the Presidential Security Division objectives for which there may be no appointed a new Deputy CDF, a new Forces on the battlefield of Gen. Muhoozi (VIP protection), Amilcar Cabral broad conventional force requirement Joint Chief of Staff and several other in July 2011 against al- Airborne School in Nakasongola, and (by ‘conventional’ here we mean chiefs and heads of department. Shabaab militants significantly altered Kainerugaba’s Fort Samora Machel Special Forces ‘regular’ army). These operations, The transfers and appointments the balance of power in favour of the School for Commandos in Kaweweta, sometimes behind enemy lines, often also affected the land and air forces, African Union forces under AMISOM, Nakaseke district. Fort Samora is require covert, clandestine or low as well as some strategic formations rapidly neutralising enemy snipers command, the the first ever such Special Forces visibility capabilities. such as the Field Artillery Division, and dismantling the terrorist group’s qualification school in the country. None of the post-independence Air Defense Division and the Special command and operational centres. SFC has grown The SFC, as a specialised Uganda para-military forces under Forces Command (SFC). When fighting broke out in Juba component of the UPDF tasked with Amin or Obote ever, in the remotest Maj. Gen. between President Kiir’s and Riek carrying out specialised missions, terms, came close to attaining these was transferred from being the Machar’s rival forces in December tremendously is now mature, albeit with room to specialised military capabilities. Commander of the Special Forces 2013, the SFC deployed within prosper even further. As a result, there Today’s SFC is meeting the Command to Senior Presidential 48 hours of a directive from the in organisation, are now ongoing discussions at policy requirements of modern special Adviser for Special Operations, after Commander-in-Chief. They were level of government to transform the forces organisations conscientiously; serving as head of the elite UPDF unit the tip of the UPDF spear and SFC into the third UPDF service, after they are alert to the challenges and for seven years, one of the longest were able to hold the ground until competence and the land and air forces. have proven themselves capable of tours of duty in the unit’s history. an expeditionary force could be Once implemented, this will be in achieving set goals. That is a welcome Only Col. Akanga Byaruhanga (RIP) organised to join them. lethality line with modern military thinking development for any military served longer, from 1984 to 1993. They quickly secured the around the world, where, for establishment. In a nutshell, the SFC, The formation was then known international airport and other instance, the marines, special forces, from its humble beginnings, is now as the High Command Unit (HCU) government installations in the in virtually all NRA/UPDF counter or strategic missile forces maybe a major component of the defense and then the Presidential Protection South Sudanese capital. Not only insurgency operations since 1986, organised as services. forces. It has proved of significant Unit (PPU). Maj. Gen. Kainerugaba were thousands of Ugandans and starting with the total defeat of the From independence in 1962 to strategic value to the UPDF and will was replaced by Col. Don. Nabasa foreign nationals working in South counter-revolutionary forces that 1986, the history of the various continue to grow and improve its in acting capacity, previously the Sudan successfully evacuated, but a attempted to make a comeback in manifestations of the Uganda Army tactical proficiency. commander of 1 Special Forces Group potentially dreadful bloodbath among August of that year in Bibia in the had different special forces units. (1 SFG). The SFC mission (www. warring ethnic groups in the capital then Gulu District. Since then, the They earned a notorious reputation The writer is the spokesman specialforcescommand.go.ug), states was averted in time. SFC (under various names), has for brutality and viciousness against of the UPDF Special Forces its mission as “to develop and operate Internally, the SFC has participated engaged and successfully contributed the population. What were called Command Kin Kariisa, Chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters Is the media helping or hurting the economy? guess you have seen screaming headlines point is how media houses covered the Kasese instance, the policy of 70% local content quota such as: “Economy collapses!” “Economy unrest. The tourism sector was hurt, remember is still a work in progress for most media houses. on life support!” “Companies struggle as Rwenzori region is home to the most spectacular I need to illuminate that airing foreign series economy takes down turn!”... crater lakes, Queen Elizabeth National Park with local voiceovers does not constitute local This is what our eyes are treated to every and Mt. Rwenzori National Park, places with content. To promote our own local content, it other day from numerous news outlets. The unique wild features some of which are not must be Ugandan and produced and directed by IUgandan economy has become a story of its own, found anywhere in the world! Did the manner of Ugandans. It should be noted, promoting local commanding prime real estate in print, radio and reporting hurt us? content attracts investors to the economy. electronic media. It calls to mind the quote: “Our Of course it did, many tourists cancelled Some media houses must be commended prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if travelling to Uganda, alarmed from what they for extending their mandates to initiatives that you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.” were fed on by numerous media outlets and this are productive, educational and promoting the So back to the question: Is the media helping or of course led to lost revenues for the thousands economy. The recent Harvest Money Expo by hurting the Ugandan economy? Among the many working in that sector not to mention the taxes. the Vision Group and the Economic Forum by roles the media plays, one key responsibility is to Broadcasting standards dictate what is NTV are examples of how media is using their create public awareness. responsible reporting and what is not. Best platform to help the economy. This is done hand in hand with the available The world over, media is used to push practice protocols must be adhered to. The NBS partnership with Leo Africa that holds facts on the ground. Media today continues to investments to their respective countries. If the economy goes to the dogs or the dogs the Economic Forum underscores the need for play the role of creating and shaping public Investors turn to the media to know where to put come to the economy, it is Ugandans that will media to elevate itself from just lamenting about opinion. But have the media players stopped their money. Across the continents, the American lose out and suffer. Even the media will not work situations, but shape how the country should be. to ask themselves: Are we in position to make model offers constructive insight on how media because of a breakdown in infrastructure. And The Travel and Agribusiness Shows on NBS Uganda look good? Yes, we are. Are we helping? can make a respective country endearing to the this is not in anyway meant to curtail journalism, have received positive reception in promoting Yes, apart from the alarmist and sensationalist foreign investors but at the same time do not give but the words we choose to deliver a message local content and showcasing Uganda. headlines from some media, we are working a free pass to their leaders. can make or break this country. With these and other initiatives, the media can hard to bring the truth to the fore in a balanced So, running leading stories and front page The National Association of Broadcasters take a cue from the global TV networks such as manner. The question is how do we strike a headlines with “Dead Economy!” do not help – will continue to work with the Uganda Al Jazeera and CNN which are taking steps to balance without compromising ourselves and largely because they barely enrich the argument Communications Commission to ensure that the promote successful African stories. But we as at the same time holding the Government from dead to the opportunities therein. It goes journalism professional benchmarks are upheld. the Ugandan media must be at the forefront of accountable? We can keep checks on the minus saying that such alarmist headlines, turn We need stronger regulation and narrating our own stories and providing direction Government while telling success stories. away would be investors and tourists. A case in implementation of already agreed to policies. For to the Ugandan public and the world.