Musanze - The Chief of Defence Staff , Lt Gen. Charles Kayonga, has urged military officers to uphold the status of the Rwanda Defence Forces as a professional and disciplined force.

Kayonga, was speaking, yesterday, at the official opening of the Intermediate Command and Staff Course, attended by senior RDF officers and police officers at Rwanda Military Academy-Nyakinama.

"Once you realise that you have been admitted to the course, you ought to know that the country calls you to serve at higher levels of responsibility, this is not necessarily a privilege but a challenge,” Kayonga said.

The six-month training, attended by 35 army and police officers will focus on operational concept and tactical level command and management during peace time and conflict.

"We don’t only train our people in tactics and techniques, but also in leadership and responsibility. This particular training is meant to empower RDF, the next generation of leaders, as we expect that participants shall form the nucleus of the next generation of RDF leaders in command and in training institutions,’’ Kayonga added.

The Commandant of the Academy, Maj. Gen Karenzi Karake, said the course, the third of its kind, was part of wide efforts to professionalise the army.

Representatives of different universities, religious institutions, the provincial governor Aime Bosenibamwe, and the president of National Unity and Reconciliation Commission, Bishop John Rucyahana, attended the function.

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