Lt Gen James Mugira, the Managing Director, National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) yesterday 9th February 2024 commissioned 120 Private Security Guards who have been undergoing training for one month at Luzira Prisons’ Academy and Training School.
The trainees included Veterans, returnees from guarding services abroad and Civilians.
This was a pass out of Security Guards Intake 3 under NEC Security Services Ltd (NSSL).
The course coverage included but was not limited to skills at arms, principles of basic security, customer care, communication, parade skills, basics of criminal law, hostile environment awareness training, voluntary principles of security and human rights, child protection and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, security installation, search for personnel and luggage, discipline and code of conduct, scene of crime management.
Gen Mugira congratulated the trainees upon completion of the Residential Course and welcomed them to the bigger family of NEC.
Gen Mugira informed the trainees that similar arrangements of starting private security companies exist elsewhere for instance in Tanzania, they have SUMA JKT guards, which are under the TDF and the world needs to have this because peace is the best infrastructure supporting the social and economic well-being of the country.
Gen pointed out that UPDF is partly involved because it is a prerequisite for economic development.
Gen Mugira said that for the last 10 years, there has been an emergency of many security companies providing security services and this reduces the burden of the government security forces.
Gen Mugira observed that the emergency of the middle class, many rich people, hotels, banks, etc need these services.
Gen Mugira further observed that the emergency of new crimes, like cyber crimes requires special skills which the training looked at.
Gen Mugira observed that the Protection of critical infrastructure, like the oil pipeline which is a government infrastructure needs security and being a govt corporation, NSSL would be better placed.
Gen Mugira urged the graduates to adhere to NSSL’s mission, vision, values and objectives.
Gen Mugira called on the graduates to be disciplined, committed to duty, build teamwork, and be loyal to the company and their country.
Gen Mugira cautioned the graduates against squandering their lives and should know why they are in such service.
Gen Mugira explained that NSSL is not demanding a monopoly in this field but rather bringing in complementarity by providing private security with a difference as many have been disappointed.
Gen Mugira thanked the Prisons management for the cooperation they have enjoyed over the years and for services extended to NEC
Assistant Commissioner General of Prisons Bisanga Hillary- The director of Human Resource Management who represented the Commissioner General thanked NEC for choosing Luzira Prisons as their training ground underscoring the long cordial collaboration between Prisons and UPDF and pointed out that UPDF has always offered prisons support to their training schools with the necessary skills whenever needed.
On his behalf, Brig Mwanje Ssekiranda, Chief of Staff -Reserve Forces, UPDF, thanked Gen Mugira for establishing NSSL and observed that it would be a good ground for retaining the veterans and patriotic youth who can be called anytime to augment the UPDF in case there is a need.
Col Moses Mwesigwa, General Manager, NSSL, enumerated some of the services NSSL has since offered in its six-month operation. These are Guard services, close protection officers of VIP escorts, ICT and technical services and investigation and have since spread to 9 districts covering 32 sites.
Present were: Maj Gen (Rtd) Innocent Oula, Deputy Managing Director of NEC and other senior officers of UPDF, NEC and Prison Services.