UPDF to retire 17 Generals
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) is set to retire 17 generals, including the former Coordinator of Intelligence Services Gen David Sejusa, in July next year in the biggest retirement of senior officers above the rank of brigadier in a single batch since 1986
What you need to know:
- Gen Sejusa has had running battles with government and on several occasions tried to retire from the army but his application was rejected by the UPDF leadership.
- In 1996, he announced his impromptu resignation from the army citing harassment and intimidation by the top army leadership following his testimony in Parliament about why the army had failed to end the atrocious insurgency in the north by the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels.
Kampala. The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) is set to retire 17 generals, including the former Coordinator of Intelligence Services Gen David Sejusa, in July next year in the biggest retirement of senior officers above the rank of brigadier in a single batch since 1986.
The latest retirement lot this year included three major generals and five brigadiers.
The Deputy UPDF spokesperson, Lt Col Deo Akiiki, yesterday confirmed the retirement and said it falls under the normal discharge schedule.
“I can confirm that Gen Sejusa is one of those who are going to retire next year. It’s our usual retirement, well-laid out retirement schedule for every officer,” he said.
On the list
Other generals to retire are: Lt Gen Ivan Koreta, the army representative in Parliament; Lt Gen Joram Mugume, the head of Ministry of Defence Land Board; Maj Gen Nathan Mugisha, Uganda’s deputy ambassador to Somalia and Maj Gen Sam Turyagyenda, former commander of Air Force.
Lt Gen Koreta is former deputy Chief of Defence Forces and one of the remaining four of 27 soldiers who trained with President Museveni in 1976 in Mozambique to fight Idi Amin. Other officers to be retired alongside Gen Sejusa are: Brig Ramadan Kyamulesire, the longest serving UPDF Chief of Legal Services; Brig Timothy Sabiiti Mutebile, the Chief of UPDF Engineering and Construction; Brig Charles Angulo Wacha, the UPDF Director of Human Rights; Brig Sam Kakuru, the Deputy Chief of Personnel and Administration.
Others are Brig Mathew Ssewankambo; Brig. Jimmy Wills Byarugaba; Brig Sam Wasswa Mutesasira; Brig Gyagenda Kibirango; Brig Tom Tumuhairwe; Ambrose Musinguzi; Brig Mulondo and Brig John Mulindwa
Lt Col Akiiki said the retirement is based on age, rank and years of service.
Gen Sejusa has had running battles with government and on several occasions tried to retire from the army but his application was rejected by the UPDF leadership.
In 1996, he announced his impromptu resignation from the army citing harassment and intimidation by the top army leadership following his testimony in Parliament about why the army had failed to end the atrocious insurgency in the north by the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels.
He blamed the army’s mistakes for the unending insurgency.
He was summoned before the High Command and sensing harassment over his parliamentary testimony, Gen Sejusa announced his resignation from the army.
The army rejected his resignation. However, he petitioned the Constitutional Court which allowed his resignation. Gen Sejusa lost the case when government appealed to the Supreme Court which dismissed his resignation in a majority verdict and declared that he was still a serving officer in the army.
Later he was reintegrated into the army and appointed Coordinator of Intelligence Services until 2013 when again he fell out with the State.
Sejusa’s woes
He authored a letter asking the Director of Internal Security Organisation to investigate information that there was a plot to assassinate top government officials opposed to the “Muhoozi Project, a scheme in which President Museveni was alleged to be grooming his son Maj Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba to succeed him as president.
Gen Sejusa fled to exile in London for about two years before he returned in December 2014.
Upon his return, he applied to leave the army but his request was again rejected.
He petitioned the High Court and won. The court ruled that he had been constructively retired from military service after the army withdrew all his entitlements as a serving General.
Justice Margaret Oguli Ouma ruled that the maverick general had spent three years without getting a salary or being deployed.
Retiring officers
- Gen David Sejusa
- Lt Gen Ivan Koreta
- Lt Gen Joram Mugume
- Maj Gen Nathan Mugisha
- Maj Gen Sam Turyagyenda
- Brig Ramadan Kyamulesire
- Brig Mathew Ssewankambo
- Brig Jimmy Wills Byarugaba
- Brig Sabiiti Mutebile
- Brig Sam Kakuru
- Brig Charles Angulo Wacha
- Brig Sam Wasswa Mutesasira
- Brig Gyagenda Kibirango
- Brig Tom Tumuhairwe
- Brig Ambrose Musinguzi
- Brig Jackson Mulondo
Brig John Mulindwa
