Ugandan Senior Command and Staff College delegates on a study tour at UDSM
By Mercy Machange, CMU
In a bid to foster academic collaboration and strengthen internationalisation, the University of Dar es Salaam recently hosted senior military officers and course members from the Senior Command and Staff College (SCSC)-Kimaka, Uganda, who were on a study tour and keen to learn about the role of industrial research on development and national power.
The study tour, facilitated by the Tanzania People’s Defense Force (TPDF), spurred exchange of knowledge and expertise between UDSM and SCSC.
Speaking on this occasion, Prof. Bonaventure Rutinwa, UDSM Deputy Vice Chancellor-Academic, who represented the Vice Chancellor, Prof. William A. L. Anangisye, highlighted at length the long-standing collaboration between Tanzania and Uganda, emphasising the role and contribution of UDSM on academic training of many notable Ugandan leaders and citizens.
“The University of Dar es Salaam has been the knowledge hub and academic home for many Ugandans including the current Uganda's President H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the country's first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Affairs the late Rt. Hon. Eriya Kategaya, and we are very proud of this role of training these notable statesmen”, said Prof. Rutinwa.
Prof. Rutinwa also underscored the significance of ongoing education exchange programmes between the two countries and noted that students from Uganda continuously enroll at the University of Dar es Salaam. “Almost every year we admit students from Uganda who study undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at the University of Dar es Salaam”.
Preparing high ranking military personnel
Major General George Igumba, SCSC Commandant and leader of the delegation, offered vital insights about the role of the Senior Command and Staff College-Kimaka and the visit to UDSM. He explained that the institution was dedicated to preparing military personnel of ranks of major and above for high-level military tasks and leadership positions through provision of graduate-level education and training.
The SCSC delegation comprised of 26 people including senior staff officers and course participants from Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda.
Meanwhile, Dr. Hezron Makundi, a lecturer from UDSM Institute of Development Studies, delivered a lecture on ‘How Industrial Research and Development is Propelling Impetus to Other Levels of National Power’, that offered critical insights on dynamics of research and the dimensions of development, power and governance.
One of the senior military officers from SCSC, Erick Mwine, commended Dr. Makundi’s insightful lecture and highlighted the importance of the lessons learned and their relevance to future research endeavours and assignments related to industrial research and development.
"The lessons learnt shall be beneficial for us in enriching our research and future assignments pertaining to the subject”, said Commandant Mwine.
He also stressed that the visit not only underscored the importance of academic exchanges but also strengthened bonds of friendship and cooperation between Tanzania and Uganda.
About SCSC
The Senior Command and Staff College (SCSC) is Uganda’s premiere military training institution which conducts operational level training for mid-level military officers from the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Force (UPDF) and other countries’ defence forces.
The training is intended to impart to the officers the necessary skills in military science as well as Peace Support Operations. It is also aimed at equipping officers with a level of training that enhances analytical skills in order to make them relevant in a modern military environment.
SCSC commenced on 30th August 2004 with a pioneer course of 31 participants. To date, the college has run several courses with intakes that comprise students from the East African Community (EAC) countries and outside such as Malawi.