The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
But Gen. Kaineruga who Museveni appointed Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations is neither near retirement not a likely candidate for stern reprimand from his father the CiC.
The official rhetoric is that Gen. Kainerugaba will be more effective in his new role as he has been freed from the day-to-day running of a service to a more strategic role. But few analysts are fooled.
Another officers drawing almost similar rhetoric is Gen. Katumba Wamala, who was moved from CDF to be Minister of State for Works. The claim is that this is a critical posting to deliver Museveni’s pet project; the East African Standard Gauge Railway.
They are likening the move to how Museveni removed Gen. Aronda as CDF and put him in the Ministry of Internal Affairs where he oversaw delivery of the major National Identification Card project.
But some insiders insist Museveni’s move on both Gen. Kainerugaba and Katumba might have been informed by some concerns over performance. Under Katumba’s reign, the UPDF has registered the highest number of attacks on security installations by civilians in Kasese, Bundibujo and even Gulu.
Early last year, several serving officers including UPDF’s Colonel Dan Opit Odwee, the AirForce garrison commander and Capt. Ojara, the head of armoury at Bombo were arrested and another group rounded up in Kyengera planning what security insiders referred to as a Coup.
There were disagreements on how this operation was carried out with some saying SFC, which carried out the operation following a tip from police had rushed to carry out the operation because already military intelligence had informants in the group and was watching to see what the group’s next course of action would be. This pointed to poor coordination in the force and insiders also said that these sorts of incidents had eaten into the force’s morale.
It also might be that at some point, everyone has to give way for other commanders to rise.
Indeed as General David Muhoozi, the new CDF and his new deputy Maj. General Mbadi also took over their new offices, some officers said the transition appeared only natural.
Given their carrier trajectories, insiders say, Muhoozi and Mbadi were headed for higher offices. The two have one thing in common; they owe their meteoric rise in the army’s ranks to their enviable record of discipline, hard work and extreme loyality to President Museveni, military analysts say.
The officers are seasoned commanders but they only got public recognition recently. Mbadi, when he served directly as President Museveni’s personal body guard and Muhoozi, when he became Commander Land Forces (CLF), the position he held until he was appointed CDF.
And it is not by coincidence. Both are gentlemen of few words and have never questioned their seniors, specifically President Museveni. And the same can be said of almost all the officers that President Museveni has promoted and posted in new offices in this round of a major reshuffle.
The former Deputy CDF, Lt. Gen Charles Angina, was put in charge of OWC.
Katumba has received his new role with gratitude saying he could not have asked for better after growing through the ranks to become a General and the head of UPDF. In reality is the capping of a military career.
In another move, Museveni pulled out Maj. Gen Sam Turyagenda, who has been the Commander Air Forces, another service, and made him the Senior Presidential Advisor on Air Forces matters.
Museveni then promoted Turyagyenda’s Deputy Brig. Charles Lwanga Lutaaya to the rank of Maj. General and made him the Commander Air Forces. Turyagyenda is older and from western Uganda. He was replaced with a younger Muganda, possibly in a regional balancing move.
Tested brigadiers get commands
Away from the services, at the level of divisions, Museveni brought tested commander, Michael Kabango, who has been the Defence Attaché to Somalia and previously based in CAR as a Colonel, promoted him to the rank of Brigadier and appointed the 5division Commander.
Museveni then recalled from Russia, Brig. Paul Lokech, another top commander who also served as commander in Somali and appointed him the 2 Division Commander replacing Elwelu.
Because the 2nd Division is in charge of the Rwenzori, which remains tense, Lokech’s deployment speaks volumes of the responsibility Museveni has put on him. Museveni might also have used this as an opportunity to pull out of the Rwenzori, Maj. Gen Elwelu, who following the clashes, would going forward find it had to deal with the leaders there.
Brig Sam Kavuma, who has been the 5 Division Commander, and was previously in Somalia, was appointed the Deputy Commander Air forces, replacing Lutaaya.
Museveni also moved Brig Charles Bakahumura from the Chief of Military Intelligence and appointed him Chief of Logistics and Engineering. Museveni then replaced him with Lt Col Abel Kandoho, who has been Staff Officer under the Office of the State Minster of Defence in charge of Veteran Affairs. Kandoho was also promoted to rank of Colonel.
