UPDF young guns replace old guards

KAMPALA

At least 11 newly promoted Ugandan army officers, including the incoming Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Katumba Wamala, were on Monday decorated at Mbuya military headquarters in Kampala.

The Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura, was also decorated at a colourful function widely seen as the beginning of young army officers taking over from the old guards.

Top military generals passionately talked about the need to maintain cohesion in the UPDF and warned against intrigue and egos in the Force, which they say would cause turmoil.

Gen Elly Tumwine, a senior member of the UPDF High Command, the highest army decision making body, and also the army representative in Parliament, told the newly-promoted officers to avoid working in isolation.

“Every moment in our struggle has been a moment to move forward. But when individual egos override the common good, that’s when we have turmoil. In the bush (the 1981 to ’86 guerrilla that brought Museveni to power), we had revolutionary methods of work and it helped us because we had two groups of those who were seen as intellectuals, Gen. Tumwine said.

“ These wanted to be intelligence officers, political commissars and be the ones to make decision while the other group was commanders going to the front line.  I normally see it around even now. But we were able to move forward. You must change you mindset and attitude,” the General who shot the first bullet in the launch of the struggle at Kababamba said.

President Museveni reshuffled the top UPDF army officers including the outgoing CDF, Gen Aronda Nyakairima who has been moved to Internal Affairs Ministry.

The reshuffle comes just after a letter written by Gen David Sejusa calling for an investigation into reports that certain officials are assassination targets for being opposed to “Muhoozi Project” kicked up a storm. “Muhoozi Project” is a scheme allegedly planned by President Museveni to have his son Brig Muhoozi Kainerugaba succeed him.

But Gen. Katumba said UPDF is united and cohesive and warned that he will not compromise on the discipline in the Force.

“UPDF is a strong because of discipline and I will not compromise during my tenure,” he said.

State minister for Defence Gen. Jeje Odong, said: “A young generation of army officers” is taking over from the old guards.

“Some of us get threatened by that kind of thing. But an institution that does not renew itself has a problem. We are here to see young officers taking over from the old ones in order to maintain life, rigorousness and relevance,” he saidThe other officers who were decorated include the new deputy CDF, Gen Charles Angina; Commander Land Forces, Maj Gen David Muhoozi; the joint Chief of Staff, Maj Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi and others.

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