Uganda president Yoweri Museveni has named his son General Muhoozi Kainerugaba as the new Chief of Defense Forces( CDF). He replaces Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi who was appointed minister of State for Trade in the new cabinet reshuffle announced Thursday evening.
Gen Muhoozi has been serving as his father’s senior presidential advisor in charge of special operations.
This comes days after President Museveni on February 17 presented the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Establishment 2021, an instrument of delegated Command, Control, and Administration, to then CDF Gen Mbadi, to command all elements of the army.
“By virtue of the powers enshrined under Article 98(1) of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, and Section 8(1) and (2)(a) of the UPDF Act, 2005, yesterday, on February 17, 2024, at the Defence Council meeting, I presented the UPDF Establishment 2021, an instrument of delegated Command, Control, and Administration, to General Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, the Chief of Defence Forces of the UPDF, to command all elements of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces,” Museveni said in a February 18 statement.
In the new appointments announced Thursday evening, Gen Museveni named Lt Gen Samuel Okiding as the deputy CDF. He replaces Gen Peter Elwelu whom the President named as one of his senior advisors.
Maj Gen Jackson Bakasumba replaces Maj Gen Leopold Eric Kyanda as the new Joint Chief of Staff. Maj Gen Kyanda has been appointed Defence attaché while the commander of the Special Forces Command (SFC), Brig Gen David Mugisha has been promoted to Major General, according to Defence spokesperson, Brig Gen Felix Kulayigye.
Commando Brigade commander, Asaph Nyakyikuru has been promoted from Colonel to the rank of Brigadier General.
Who is Gen Muboozi Kainerugaba the new CDF ?
Muhoozi Kainerugaba (born 24 April 1974) is a Ugandan general, Son of President Yoweri Museveni and currently serves as the Chief of Defence Forces f the Uganda People’s Defence Forces.(UPDF).
He was appointed commander of the Special Forces Command (SFC) from 2008 to 2017, and again from December 2020 to 2021,then commander of the land forces of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) from 24 June 2021 to 4 October 2022, when he was removed following tweets claiming to be able to capture Nairobi in less than a week.Both the UPDF and the SFC are accused of using excessive force, as well as abductions.
Muhoozi and other senior officials are mentioned in an International Criminal Court complaint.
In 2017, Muhoozi was appointed Presidential Adviser, fueling speculations he was being prepared for the presidency.
He announced was running for the office on 15 March 2023, despite his father also indicating he would run for re-election.
On 30 November 2021, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo launched a joint military offensive in Eastern Congo dubbed ‘Operation Shujaa’, led by Muhoozi. The stated reason is to fight against the Ugandan rebel group Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)
