Ugandan officer cadet Andrew Bakira Ruyondo has won the International Sword at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, an award presented to the outstanding international officer cadet at the academy’s Sovereign’s Parade.
A photograph from the ceremony shows Ruyondo in ceremonial uniform standing with family members beneath Sandhurst’s “International Sword” honours board, where his name, listed as A. Bakira, Uganda, now appears among previous recipients from countries including Bangladesh, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Singapore, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates.
The International Sword, also referred to by the British Army as the Overseas Sword, is among the major honours presented during Sandhurst’s Sovereign’s Parade to international cadets. Previous Sandhurst ceremonies have described the recipient as the international officer cadet judged by the Commandant to have performed the strongest overall during training.
Part Of A Notable Graduating Cohort
Ruyondo graduated alongside Ruhamya Kainerugaba, son of Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, with both among the international and British cadets completing Sandhurst’s officer-training programme, which covers military leadership, field training, tactics, and physical development.
Their graduation continues the UPDF’s long-standing practice of sending selected officer cadets to overseas military academies for training, with Ruyondo’s International Sword win marking a notable individual achievement for Uganda within this year’s international cohort.
