Muhoozi heads tank battalion

Apr 25, 2005

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has transformed the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) motorised battalion into the tank battalion to be headed by his son, Major Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

By F. Ahimbisibwe

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has transformed the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) motorised battalion into the tank battalion to be headed by his son, Major Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

The transformation comes after Muhoozi and other officers completed a course at Kalama School of Armour.

Museveni, also the commander-in-chief of the UPDF, made promotions. Muhoozi, was, however, not promoted.

Army spokesman Major Shaban Bantariza yesterday said the tank battalion was an innovation of the army, adding that it would play a significant role in fighting Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army rebels.

Bantariza said the tank battle group is a battalion within the army, which has slightly more soldiers than an infantry battalion.

An infantry battalion has about 736 officers and men.

Bantariza declined to give details of the operations of the tank battalion.
“It will be deployed by the commander-in-chief as he deems necessary,” he said.

Muhoozi has done several army courses after his studies at Nottingham University in the Uk.

Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi promoted him to the rank of Major from second lieutenant in 2000.

Muhoozi graduated from the Sandhurst Royal Military Academy in the UK on August 11, 2000.

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