Gen. Nyakairima warns retired officers

Oct 31, 2005

THE Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Aronda Nyakairima, yesterday warned retired army officers against turning against the Commander-in-Chief, President Yoweri Museveni, to divide the army.

By F. Ahimbisibwe

THE Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Aronda Nyakairima, yesterday warned retired army officers against turning against the Commander-in-Chief, President Yoweri Museveni, to divide the army.

Aronda said some retired officers were interfering with the army and trying to spread propaganda to disunite the force.

“Some officers, when they retire, turn against the Commander-in-Chief but we are in full force. Our response will be terrible for those trying to interfere with the army and dividing us. They stand warned. I am telling politicians that they should not attempt to saw seeds of disunity in the UPDF,” he said.

Aronda was yesterday speaking at the army headquarters in Bombo at the promotion and retirement ceremony of 39 officers who were on October 24 promoted and others retired by Museveni. The ceremony lasted about five hours.

Two of the leading opposition politicians and Museveni’s critics are former army officers. They are Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate Col. Kiiza Besigye and former army commander Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu, who have both held senior positions in the UPDF.

“We have seen governments which have spent only one year, 68 days or even two months in power. The UPDF is determined to defend the country from such and also defend a government which is clearly steering the country into development and stability,” he said.

The promoted officers who were decorated were Generals Aronda, Caleb Akandwanaho (Salim Saleh), Elly Tumwine and David Tinyefuza.

Others were Lieutenant General Ivan Koreta, who is now the deputy Chief of Defence Forces and the commander of the Land Forces, Lt. Gen. Katumba Wamala.
Col. Tom Butime, Brig. Andrew Lutaaya and Col. Charles Okello were given their retirement certificates.

Also decorated were Major Generals Jimmy Owoyesigire, the commander of the Air Force, Ben Biraro, the Commandant of Kimaka Staff College, Julius Oketa, the head of procurement and disposal unit and Kale Kaihura, the new Police chief.

Brig. Noble Mayombo, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Brig. Robert Rusoke, the Chief of Staff, land forces, Brig. Samuel Turyagyenda, the deputy commander and chief-of-staff of the Air Force, Brig. Francis Okello, chief political commissar, Brig. Silver Kayemba, the Chief of Operations and Training, Brig. Hudson Mukasa, the commander of the 2nd Infantry Division, Brig. Nathan Mugisha, the Commander of the 4th Infantry Division, Brig. George Etyang, the commander of the 5th Infantry Division, Brig. David Wakaalo, the chief of doctrine and Brig. Sam Lwanga, the deputy chief of medical services.

Others were Brig. Fred Tolit, Brig. Hussein Adda as well as Colonels, Phinehas Katirima, Chief of personnel and administration, James Mugira, commander armoured brigade, Leopold Kyanda, the new CMI chief and William Beinomugisha, the new PGB commander.

All the officers were decorated with their new army pips reflecting their new ranks. Defence minister Amama Mbabazi and five defence attaches attended. The spouses of the officers took part in the decorating ceremony.

Mbabazi said although the army was in principle supposed to be non-partisan, the UPDF would not be separated from the politics of the country, given the history of Uganda.

“The army being non-partisan does not mean that it is not political. No force in the world is not political.

All wars are political wars and therefore, the UPDF has fought against oppressive regimes and will continue protecting and upholding the values of Ugandans.

Although, it has been professionalised, it does not make it apolitical,” he said.

Gen. Tinyefuza, speaking on behalf of the generals, said, “Much as the army is supposed to be non-partisan, the UPDF is absolutely on the side of the Government and will protect the constitution and the people of Uganda.”

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