President Yoweri Museveni, the Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces on Monday, March 25, carried out a fresh promotion and changes in the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces, promoting Maj. Gen Sam Kavuma to the rank of lieutenant general and appointed him the Force Commander of the African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).

Defence Deputy Spokesperson Col Deo Akiiki said Maj. Gen. Kavuma who was the Deputy Land Forces Commander will replace Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding who on Thursday last week was appointed the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces (D/CDF).

“Having been appointed D/CDF, Lt Gen Okiding will return home from Somalia and Maj Gen Kavuma has been promoted to the rank of Lt Gen and appointed ATMIS force Commander to replace him. Promotion and appointment take immediate effect,” Akiiki said.

This would not be the first time Maj. Gen. Kavuma has been to Somalia. He served as contingent commander in 2015 and later handed over to Lt. Gen. Okiding.

Maj. Gen. Kavuma is among the ten UPDF Members of Parliament representing the Army in the House and it remains unclear whether he will also be replaced.  

His promotion comes in the wake of last week’s Cabinet and military changes made by President Museveni.

In the military changes, President Museveni appointed Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the new Chief of Defence Forces replacing Gen. Wilson Mbasu Mbadi who he had earlier in the day appointed the Minister for State for Trade.

Museveni also appointed Lt. Gen. Okiding the DCDF replacing Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu who was appointed special Presidential Advisor.

Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (UPDF) Chief of Staff Land Force Maj. Gen. Jack Bagonza Bakasumba was appointed the Joint Chief Of Staff replacing Maj Gen Leopold Kyanda who was appointed a defence attaché.

Brig. Gen. David Mugisha, the commander of the Special Forces Command (SFC) was promoted to the rank of major general, while Col Asaph Mweteise Nyakikuru, the commander of the SFC commando unit was promoted to the rank of brigadier general.

President Museveni directed Gen. Salim Saleh to oversee the handover and takeover of CDF and, thereafter, the CDF to oversee other handovers.