President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has commissioned new accommodation facilities for personnel of the Special Forces Command (SFC) at Nakasero, saying the investment is intended to improve the welfare, discipline and operational readiness of Uganda’s armed forces.
Museveni, who is also Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), said the project reflects a principle that guided the National Resistance Army (NRA) during its early years: institutions should prioritise essential needs and expand their capabilities according to available resources.
Quoting a Banyankole proverb, “The shape of the head determines the hairstyle,” the President said organisations should plan and develop within their means rather than pursue projects they cannot afford.
Museveni recalled that when the NRA launched its armed struggle, it had 27 guns while facing an army of about 60,000 soldiers. He said the group consequently prioritised weapons and military training before expanding investment in soldiers’ welfare and accommodation as resources increased.
“What a soldier needs, apart from food and some clothes, is weapons and training. Even if that is all you have, you can still fight,” he said.
The President said the force subsequently expanded its capabilities through the acquisition of advanced equipment, increased personnel and investment in military infrastructure.
He also cited corruption as a challenge that the military has had to address, stressing the importance of providing organised accommodation for soldiers and commanders.
Museveni credited Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba with supporting efforts to direct resources towards military infrastructure, including the construction of barracks.
“He would get that money which was used for operations and instead use it to build barracks. We were always insisting that commanders must stay in the barracks,” Museveni said.
The President said housing soldiers together also has operational and strategic benefits, particularly during periods of conflict.
“Now that we have a bit of money, let’s address that,” he said.
Museveni commended State House Comptroller Jane Barekye and the technical team involved in the project, singling out Prof. John Stanley Ralph Senfuma for what he described as good work.
Barekye thanked the President for entrusting State House with the project and providing the resources required for its completion.
She attributed the project’s delivery to cooperation between the State House Estates Department, consultants, contractors and SFC personnel.
According to Barekye, construction began in 2023 and was completed in 2025. The two dormitory blocks provide accommodation for 518 people.
The Commander of the Special Forces Command, Maj. Gen. Asaph Mweteise Nyakikuru, described the commissioning as an important milestone for the SFC and said improved accommodation would contribute to the welfare and professional development of its personnel.
He said the SFC is also investing in technology, command centres, situational awareness, coordination and decision-making systems.
Nyakikuru urged personnel occupying the new facilities to take responsibility for their upkeep and maintenance.
Prof. Senfuma, the project’s technical adviser, said the team had been tasked with improving soldiers’ living conditions while ensuring that the facilities met the required standards.
“We have not compromised on the quality because our objective is to deliver work of a quality that should not shame you for having tasked us to do it,” he said.
Senfuma emphasised the importance of regular maintenance and adequate budgeting to preserve the facilities, noting that even well-constructed buildings require continued upkeep.
He also said the project had been executed entirely by Ugandan workers.
“This work has been done by Ugandans, 100 percent,” Senfuma said, rejecting what he described as misinformation that foreign labour was necessary for such projects.
He said Ugandan workers could deliver quality projects when provided with proper management and support.
Senior SFC commanders and State House administrators attended the commissioning ceremony.
