The Inspector General of Police Abbas Byakagaba, on Friday, 30th August, passed out 53 trainees who had undergone the Maritime Basic Induction Course at Kigo Marine Base, Wakiso District.
The course, which was composed of 3 female and 50 male trainees, lasted for 8 months and aimed to equip them with combat survival and rescue skills, an essential aspect of maritime safety.
While passing out the trainees, IGP Byakagaba extended his deepest gratitude to the director of operations, commandant police marine, and the entire team for their dedication, hard work, and commitment to safeguarding waters and ensuring maritime security and safety.
“I recognize the challenges you face daily while conducting maritime emergency operations under often perilous conditions. Your courage and resilience are the backbone of our maritime security efforts,” he said.
Byakagaba also reaffirmed their commitment to working alongside the director of operations and the commandant police marine to address any challenges and to celebrate their successes because their expertise and passion are invaluable assets.
In addition, the IGP asked the trainees to endeavor to practice and remember what they have learned because that knowledge will save them as well as be useful to the nation during the performance of their day-to-day duties.
“The Uganda Police Force has taken deliberate steps to provide you with this cutting-edge practical and theoretical training which has prepared you for the assignments ahead. I am sure you are now able to translate the knowledge on the topics you have learned during the course, including navigation, diving, boat maintenance, and marksmanship, among others,” he noted.
Byakagaba also assured support to the trainees with all the required equipment to simplify their work as well as requesting them to live and follow a meaningful, useful, productive lifestyle.
“I, therefore, remind you to be focused and careful of your health and avoid multiple partners, drug abuse, and alcohol misuse if you want to live longer and see our age. HIV/AIDS is real and is still rampant, especially in areas surrounding Uganda’s water bodies,” the IGP highlighted.
He concluded by encouraging them to be good cadres, patriotic, disciplined, and love themselves, their families, and the country at large, saying, “Uganda is our motherland, and it’s upon you and me to join hands and defend our motherland.”
CP Eng Sulaiman Karungi, the Commandant Marine Police, assured the IGP and the entire country that the marine officers are ready to carry on with maritime operations and, therefore, lauds the instructors for the great work well done with fixing skills to the trainees.
He also highlighted that the course started with 55 participants. However, two of them passed on along the way, including PPC Ajaga Musema, who drowned while in training, and PPC Job Paul Okello, who succumbed to a long illness of lung cancer, and a moment of silence was observed for those two departed souls.
Present at the passing-out event were SCP Frank Mwesigwa the director of operations, Luke Owesigire the Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police spokesperson, officers, CAA, and Ministry of Health representatives among others.
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