| Type | Armoured Warfare Training School |
|---|---|
| Established | 2005 [1] |
| Commandant | Brigadier Francis Chemonges |
| Undergraduates | 450 |
| Location | , , 00°15′00″N31°11′06″E / 0.25000°N 31.18500°E |
  Location in Uganda | |
The Karama Armoured Warfare Training School(KAWATS), is an Armoured Warfare Training School in Uganda, East Africa. Typically, graduates are commanders in the Uganda People's Defence Force. Other African countries also send their military personnel to the school for training.
The school is located in Kabamba, Mubende District, Central Uganda. This location, lies approximately 49 kilometres (30 mi), by road, southwest of Mubende, the nearest large town and the location of the district headquarters. [2] Kabamba is located approximately 200 kilometres (120 mi), west of Kampala, the capital of Uganda and the largest city in that country. [3] The coordinates of Kabamba are:0°15'00.0"N, 31°11'06.0"E (Latitude:0.2500; Longitude:31.1850). [4]
The school, built by Uganda's Ministry of Defence, at a cost of USh 1.8 billion (approximately US$730,000), was commissioned in February 2005. Medallion Engineering Limited, was the lead construction contractor. The school can accommodate approximately 450 students at one time. [5] The current Commandant of KAWATS is Brigadier Francis Chemonges, formerly the Armoured Brigade Operations Officer. [6]
The Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF), previously known as the National Resistance Army, is the armed forces of Uganda. From 2007 to 2011, the International Institute for Strategic Studies estimated the UPDF had a total strength of 40,000–45,000, consisting of land forces and an air wing. Recruitment to the forces is done annually.
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