U.S. Army Reserve Command

Story by Corey Schultz

KITGUM, Uganda-- Frederick, Md., resident Sgt. Dixion Rwakasyaguri left his native Uganda at the age of 20 to come to the United States with his family. He pursued and achieved the "American dream:" married with two sons, he is a month away from earning his MBA and a sergeant with the Army Reserve's 400th Military Police Battalion out of Rockville, Md.

Rwakasyaguri has had a successful career as an Army Reserve MP, and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, having deployed to Camp Bucca, Iraq, in 2008 with the 400th MP Battalion.

Now it was time to give back.

When "Sgt. Rock," as he is known to friends, found out that a detachment of MPs was heading to Uganda to support U.S. Army Africa's exercise Natural Fire 10, he jumped at the chance to return to the country of his birth.

"Natural Fire" is a partnership exercise between the United States and five East African countries: Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. The 1,200 participants gathered in northern Uganda, near the town of Kitgum, and for 10 days practiced disaster management, convoy operations and disaster relief.

Medical and dental personnel set up at local clinics, treating about 700 Ugandan citizens a day for illnesses and injuries such as malaria, skin infection, asthma –even providing psychological counseling. Though they did not bring maternity capabilities, through a fortunate coincidence an emergency room nurse, 1st. Lt. Victoria Lynn Watson, with the 7231st Medical Support Unit in Lubbock, Texas, is a labor and delivery nurse in her civilian occupation. She rushed to help when a 19-year-old Ugandan woman went into labor at the gate of Pajimo Clinic –and 90 minutes later delivered a healthy, 5.5 pound baby boy.

Rwakasyaguri and the other Army Reserve MPs provided force protection and security for the forward operating base in rural Kitgum. They escorted generals and other distinguished visitors, operated the entry control points, and conducted patrols. They kept the camp and the participants safe.
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"I became an MP because I like taking care of people," Rwakasyaguri explained.

Rwakasyaguri also stated he enjoyed working with the Ugandan soldiers. Ugandan and U.S. MPs worked side-by-side at the ECPs and on patrol.

"It was a blessing to come home and be able to help out, not only with our Soldiers, but with my fellow Ugandans," Rwakasyaguri said.

He was even able to take time off from his MP duties and travel 200 miles south to Entebbe, where he met with several cousins and their children for a leisurely dinner and a lot of catching up on news. Then it was back to work in Kitgum.

Rwakasyaguri explained that even though he is a native Ugandan, he does not speak the same language of the local Kitgum Soldiers. There are more than 40 languages spoken in Uganda, and the dialects differ greatly, though many Ugandans speak English and Swahili to have a common language. However, he stated, working together can bridge the language barrier and build understanding.

"I'm proud to be here –I think it's a very useful mission," Rwakasyaguri said.

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