The Special Forces Command (SFC) has emerged as the overall winner of the 2026 Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Inter-Forces Drill Competition, taking the top honours after days of intense displays of military precision, discipline, coordination and teamwork at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala.
The competition, which brought together personnel from across the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), was the second edition of the CDF Inter-Forces Drill Competition and attracted more than 1,400 participants representing over 40 teams from different formations, services and specialised units.
SFC’s victory placed the elite formation at the top of a competition designed not merely as a ceremonial spectacle but as a test of the discipline, cohesion and precision expected of a modern military.
The 2026 contest was held under the theme “Precision, Discipline and Cohesion: Pillars of National Resilience and Transformation.” It built on the inaugural competition held in May 2025, which had 16 participating units and was won by the Internal Security Organisation (ISO).
The 2026 edition was significantly expanded, bringing together a much larger field and introducing a wider range of competitive routines.
Among the activities were foot drill, arm drill, sword drill, pace-stick and crop-stick routines, cane-stick drills, synchronised formations and creative displays incorporating music, storytelling and elements of Ugandan culture.
Okiding: Drill is about more than marching
Deputy Chief of Defence Forces and Inspector General of the UPDF, Lt Gen Sam Okiding, said the competition was designed to reinforce qualities that are essential to military effectiveness.
Speaking at the event, Okiding stressed that discipline is central to transforming soldiers into an effective fighting force.
“Discipline sharpens the attention to detail and strengthens coordination, cooperation, and teamwork,” Okiding said.
He added that military drill develops confidence and unity while strengthening the ability of soldiers to respond promptly and effectively.
“It develops confidence, unity, and ability to respond promptly, and effectively and ensures operational effectiveness of any modern force,” he said.
His remarks underlined the connection between what happens on the parade square and what soldiers are expected to do in operational environments.
Drill requires personnel to listen carefully to commands, execute instructions simultaneously, maintain formation and respond to changes without hesitation. These habits, military commanders argue, are transferable to combat and other operational assignments where timing, coordination and obedience can determine the outcome of a mission.
CDF praises rising standards
Although CDF Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba did not personally deliver the closing remarks, his message was delivered by Lt Gen Okiding.
The CDF commended the participants for the significant improvement in standards compared with the inaugural edition.
Gen Muhoozi noted that lessons from the first competition had translated into improvements in precision, coordination and cohesion across the various drill categories.
He emphasised that drill is an important component of military training because it develops attention to detail and prompt execution of commands.
The CDF further linked the skills developed through drill to the UPDF’s wider responsibilities, including internal security and international peace and stabilisation missions in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Somalia.
The message was that a soldier’s ability to respond instantly and accurately to commands during a drill is part of a wider culture of operational readiness.
SFC takes top honours
SFC’s overall victory was a significant achievement for the specialised formation, which has traditionally been associated with demanding training and specialised military operations.
Its success at Kololo demonstrated its ability to combine individual discipline with collective performance.
In a drill competition, success depends on the ability of every participant to maintain exact timing and formation while responding to commands. Small errors in movement, spacing, timing or coordination can affect the performance of an entire team.
SFC’s overall triumph therefore reflected the formation’s strong showing across the different aspects of the competition.
The 3rd Infantry Division emerged as the second-best overall performer, according to the UPDF’s official account of the competition.
The result also showed the increasingly competitive nature of the event, with formations and units seeking to improve their standards from one edition to another.
From 16 teams to more than 40
The expansion of the competition is one of the notable developments since its inaugural edition. The first CDF Inter-Forces Drill Competition in 2025 brought together 16 units. The 2026 edition increased participation to more than 40 teams, involving senior and junior officers, warrant officers and other ranks.
The expansion reflects the UPDF leadership’s desire to institutionalise the competition and make military drill an important part of building a unified force.
The organisers said the competition was intended to promote excellence and precision while strengthening cooperation and camaraderie among the different branches of the military.
It also offered the public an opportunity to see military formations demonstrating skills that are usually displayed during ceremonial events.
Drill as a foundation for battlefield performance
Defence Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka, who presided over the grand finale, reinforced the importance of drill, saying it should not be viewed merely as marching or ceremonial performance. “An army that cannot drill cannot fight,” Kiryowa said.
He argued that the precision displayed on the parade square reflects the precision soldiers are expected to demonstrate on the battlefield.
“Drill is not just marching, drill is the foundation of military discipline,” he said, adding that it builds obedience, teamwork, alertness and pride in service.
According to the minister, soldiers learn through drill to listen carefully, obey instantly, work collectively and maintain endurance under pressure.
That philosophy was evident throughout the competition as teams competed to demonstrate their mastery of complex movements and formations.
Building a professional force
The competition also fits into the UPDF’s broader effort to strengthen professionalism and discipline within the force.
The army has increasingly emphasised professional military education, operational readiness and improved standards among officers and other ranks.
The CDF has previously described drill competitions as a way of reinforcing discipline, self-control, pride in uniform, precision, attention to detail, time management and teamwork.
The 2026 competition therefore served both a competitive and institutional purpose.
While teams competed for honours, the broader objective was to create a culture in which precision and discipline become routine across the force.
The event also strengthened interaction between different formations and units, giving personnel an opportunity to learn from each other and compare standards.
A spectacle for the public
Held at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, the competition also became a public spectacle, attracting senior government officials, military commanders, representatives from sister security agencies and members of the public.
The involvement of civilians was part of the UPDF’s effort to strengthen civil-military relations and allow Ugandans to appreciate the skills, discipline and traditions of their armed forces.
The competition featured both traditional military routines and creative displays, including synchronised formations and cultural elements.
For the UPDF leadership, this combination allowed the army to preserve military traditions while demonstrating a modern and professional force.
As the second edition came to a close, SFC walked away with the biggest prize—the overall championship—while the wider UPDF celebrated what commanders described as improved standards across the force.
For Lt Gen Okiding, however, the real victory went beyond the trophy. It was the strengthening of discipline, teamwork, confidence and operational effectiveness among soldiers.
The success of the 2026 CDF Inter-Forces Drill Competition has now set a higher benchmark for future editions, with the UPDF expected to continue using the event to sharpen precision, discipline and cohesion across its formations and services.
Author Profile
- Mr. Stephen Kasozi Muwambi is a seasoned crime investigative writer, majoring in judicial-based stories. His two decades’ experience as a senior investigative journalist has made him one of the best to reckon on in Uganda. He can also be reached via [email protected]
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