Footage circulating online shows retired Chinese military personnel training Ugandan private security recruits in firearms handling, with several moments drawing attention to the trainees’ apparent difficulties during live-fire exercises. The instructors are seen physically correcting the recruits’ rifle and shotgun positions, adjusting their grips and guiding their aim at an outdoor shooting range. Some trainees appear to struggle with basic handling techniques, including maintaining stable firing positions and keeping their weapons properly controlled. The video also shows instructors intervening when magazines appear to come loose and when trainees handle their firearms incorrectly. The scenes have attracted attention online, with the footage’s caption joking that the recruits seem to be “demonstrating their own skills” rather than simply following instructions. However, the video alone does not establish the trainees’ overall experience or the full scope of the training program.

The footage also draws attention to the broader security relationship between China and Uganda, which includes military education, personnel training and technical cooperation. Uganda’s Ministry of Defence has publicly acknowledged China’s support for the country’s defense sector, while a bilateral military agreement signed in September 2025 outlined expanded cooperation in training, military education and technology transfer. However, the individuals shown in this particular video appear to be private security personnel, and there is no confirmation that they are members of Uganda’s national military, the Uganda People’s Defence Force. Uganda has a substantial private security sector, whose armed personnel are expected to meet professional standards for firearm handling, supervision and accountability. The video offers a glimpse of one apparent training session, but the identities of the instructors, the organization conducting the program and the exact circumstances surrounding the footage have not been independently established.