VP Alupo Tips Ladies On Joining The Army

By Henry Mulindwa

Vice President Maj. Jessica Rose Alupo Epel has encouraged ladies who may want to join the armed forces not to fear.

Alupo who is also the Katakwi district woman MP said joining the armed forces (army, police and prisons) enables an individual to prove his or her full potential to serve the country.The vice president who herself is a soldier said that her inspiration to join the army was the desire to serve.

“What inspired me to join the army was the desire to serve. By the time I joined, I saw the Commander in Chief grappling with the problem of LRA. I said I think I need to join and also make an input here. By the time I joined, it didn’t occur to me in any way that I could get any problem. I just wanted to join” she says.

Alupo however, says whereas she never feared for anything upon joining, her parents were the ones who got scared about her decision and safety.

“They got scared thinking that I was going to get a problem. My dad even stormed the training camp wanting to grab me from there but he was told the cadets were’t there at the time. Therefore, for those ladies who may want to join the forces (prisons, police and army), I want to give you all the confidence that you’re extremely protected by the law when you join” she lectured.

She said joining the army is the best decision one can ever make without regrets.

“When you join the army, you get a chance to interact with many officers at your level and above. These will groom you and empower you to fully prove yourself and full potential. In the army, everyone is treated the same way. There’s no favoritism” she said.

Alupo adds that the army also enables an individual to know his or her country earlier before he or she’s posted in any position of responsibility.

“In the army, you learn to work under orders. You can be deployed anywhere at any time and situation. You will not question. Whether in a tense area or stable area, you will have to follow the order. In this way, a soldier gets exposed. Today you’re in Gulu, tomorrow in Kabale and the other day in Katakwi. So, it gives you chance to know your country well and understand various cultures of the country so that when you’re called to serve, you can easily blend with them (people)”. She said.

Alupo who was talking about her personal life on one of the local televisions, attributed her success to the army which she said taught her discipline and that she built her personality of being a flexible lady right from the time she joined the forces. She said she has learnt to be a good listener, a hard worker and less talkative.

“I work more and comment less. I also love to listen more. In choosing to listen more and talk less, I get a chance to give people an opportunity to express themselves well” she said.

She said during her tenure as education minister, her journey was full of challenges based on work. She said some of these she overcame them and others were not.

She thanked president Museveni for entrusting her with this office and referred to him as her role model.