90 Air force officers promoted
Gen Elly Tumwine (L) decorates UPDF Radar boss, Col Sebastian Cherotin after he was promoted from Lt Col to full Colonel. Right is Col Cherotin’s wife. Photo by Martin Ssebuyira
The UPDF Commander in Chief, Gen Yoweri Museveni, yesterday promoted 90 Air force officers, the first exercise of its kind since the National Resistance Army captured power in 1986. The new promotions saw the UPDF head of Radar, Lt Col Sebastian Cherotin, chief instructor Uganda Military Aviation Academy, Lt Col Nassan Begumisa, UPDF Air force Director of Operations Lt Col Dick Lutaaya and Base Commander Soroti Air Force Base Lt Col Moses Amanya all promoted to full colonels.
Six Majors were promoted to Lieutenant Colonels, 20 Captains were made Majors, 57 Lieutenants were made Captains and three Warrant Officers’ 1 were made Lieutenants.
New responsibilities
While decorating the officers, UPDF MP Gen Elly Tumwine said the new ranks come with new responsibilities that the officers should embrace to take the army to greater heights.
“You need to have a checklist of values, beliefs, ethics, training and self-study to guide you through this new responsibility coming in form of new ranks,” he said. He said Air force compared to other sectors like infantry needs cohesion because a single mistake can bring down the whole force.
Historic
UPDF Air force commander Sam Turyagenda said this is the first batch of Air Force officers to be promoted at once that will go a long way to motivate the officers. “As new officers, you should account for your actions and failures,” Brig Turyagenda said. He added: “The new ranks call for demand and accountability.”
