33 Ugandan Women Trained in Peacekeeping & Drone Operations

• 33 women peacekeepers from 15 UN member states, including Uganda, went through training in peacekeeping as well as the use of drones
• It consisted of the 5th Women's Outreach Course and a drone pilot and trainer course

33 Ugandan peacekeepers among 15 United Nations member nations have graduated in advanced peacekeeping and drone operations training at the United Nations Regional Service Centre in Entebbe.

The attendees participated in the fifth Women's Outreach Course and the Micro Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Remote Pilot and Trainer of Trainers Course.

The course was conducted by the United Nations C4ISR Academy for Peace Operations, with the assistance of the Government of Canada.

The training enhanced women's participation and leadership in peacekeeping operations through the acquisition of enhanced technological and operational expertise, equipping them for deployment in the complex peacekeeping environments on the global scene.

At the conclusion of the event, Brigadier General Charity Bainababo, Director of Women Affairs at UPDF, expressed her gratitude for the partnership between Uganda, the United Nations, and development partners in cooperating on the peacekeeping effort, and especially for Uganda’s role as the host country in providing the quality training facilities and logistics to ready participants for peacekeeping.

Bainababo observed that the training of drone pilots marks a significant achievement in new-generation peacekeeping, and that technology is adding to the peacekeeping operational effort in increasing scholarship on peacekeeping stations once the convivial domain of scholars of peacekeeping.

She also thanked the United Nations and Government of Canada and Japan for their continued sponsorship.

Pamela Kertland, Consul General of Canada to Uganda called the program a critical step to women’s empowerment and gender equality in an international effort for peacekeeping, and encouraged the graduates to be on the lookout for further employable opportunities to help prepare them for future peacekeeping efforts.