Gen. Karuhanga, quiet but thorough
Major General Levi Karuhanga is one of the most quiet officers in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces. He is one of the most professional and highly trained soldiers going by the courses he has undergone. It is thus not surprising that whenever the call for Uganda to send troops for peacekeeping op
By Joshua Kato
Major General Levi Karuhanga is one of the most quiet officers in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces. He is one of the most professional and highly trained soldiers going by the courses he has undergone. It is thus not surprising that whenever the call for Uganda to send troops for peacekeeping operations comes, Karuhanga answers.
Born 51 years ago, Karuhanga is now the overall commander of the African Union Somali Peace-Keeping troops from different African countries, including 1,500 from Uganda.
He joined the bush war around 1981 in Luweero. He is RO/057, which means he was the 57th recruit of the then new rebel force. Given the fact that the initial force that attacked Kabamba had 41 combatants, it means Karuhanga was the 16th recruit following the initial 41. He fought throughout the war until the NRA captured power in 1986.
In the bush, he was a member of the 3rd Battalion that was commanded by Col. Patrick Lumumba. “He was senior by 1986 and he has been a commander for a very long time,†says the UPDF spokesperson, Felix Kulayigye.
Karuhanga was among the 82 bush war heroes who were officially awarded medals of valour during the 2001 Heroes Day celebrations.
He was deployed as a Battalion Commander in northern Uganda in 1987. He then served as Uganda’s Military Attache’ to Tanzania between 1988 and 1990. He has since undergone further training in several war colleges during the last 20 years. Among the key courses attended is the Strategic Military Studies in Egypt. It is a high level course that enables officers to study and analyse different military situations. Other courses attended include those at the China War College in China, Staff College Nigeria and other courses in Kenya and Uganda.
He served as a brigade commander in the 4th Division, Gulu from 1990 to 1992 and also as commander of the 3rd Division in Mbale. This Division was at the time responsible for areas of Teso, Karamoja and parts of Mbale. Around the time, he commanded in Mbale in the early 1990s, the war in Teso was just coming to an end. There was still some animosity between the National Resistance Army and the local population. However, Karuhanga worked to create harmony. “He used to lead trips into the villages, were he mixed up with the local population in order to create confidence,†one soldier said.
He also served as Commander of the 1st Division in Kakiri. “Afande Karuhanga listens. I served under him at Kakiri for over a year and I cannot remember him taking a decision without listening to us,†he says. Among his achievements while at Kakiri was overseeing renovation of the barracks, from a collection of small grass-thatched houses and dilapidated buildings, to one of the best barracks in the country today.
Karuhanga was overall leader of the Ugandan peacekeeping mission in Liberia and second in command of UN forces in Liberia. “In Liberia he distinguished himself as a leader. This is why choosing him for a peace-keeping command was obvious,†says Kulayigye.
At one time in Liberia, a group of rebels abducted several Ugandan peacekeepers. One would have expected their colleagues to attack and kill the enemy. However, Karuhanga and the overall commander Lt. Gen. Ivan Koreta decided to use persuasive measures. Eventually, the soldiers were released.
From Liberia, he served as commanding officer Africa Crisis Response Initiative, in 1997. This was a continental force trained by the US to respond to crisis in Africa.
Karuhanga is leading a command of experienced and battle hardened men. For example, Colonel Lawrence Kyazze who is in charge of the Mechanised and Motorised attachments and Lt. Colonel Peter Elwelu who is in charge of the Infantry Battalion.
Captain Paddy Ankunda, the force spokesman, has served in this capacity in different situations. He was once UPDF spokesman in the north, but at the time of his appointment, he was spokesperson of the Uganda peace team in Juba.
All the officers were specifically selected for the Somali deployment on account of their exemplary performance in service. Many of them have taken part in the various wars in the region, including fighting in the Congo and southern Sudan.
“It is a formidable force. It can handle any situation,†says Kulayigye.
Karuhanga was born on February 24, 1956 in Bushenyi District. He studied at Nyamitoma, Bweranyangi and Mwengura Primary Schools. He then joined Mbarara High School, before going to Nairobi for a Diploma in International Studies.
“He is a professional soldier. He is quiet by nature and I think this is what propels him on and on through all kinds of storms,†says a senior colleague.
Major General Levi Karuhanga is one of the most quiet officers in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces. He is one of the most professional and highly trained soldiers going by the courses he has undergone. It is thus not surprising that whenever the call for Uganda to send troops for peacekeeping operations comes, Karuhanga answers.
Born 51 years ago, Karuhanga is now the overall commander of the African Union Somali Peace-Keeping troops from different African countries, including 1,500 from Uganda.
He joined the bush war around 1981 in Luweero. He is RO/057, which means he was the 57th recruit of the then new rebel force. Given the fact that the initial force that attacked Kabamba had 41 combatants, it means Karuhanga was the 16th recruit following the initial 41. He fought throughout the war until the NRA captured power in 1986.
In the bush, he was a member of the 3rd Battalion that was commanded by Col. Patrick Lumumba. “He was senior by 1986 and he has been a commander for a very long time,†says the UPDF spokesperson, Felix Kulayigye.
Karuhanga was among the 82 bush war heroes who were officially awarded medals of valour during the 2001 Heroes Day celebrations.
He was deployed as a Battalion Commander in northern Uganda in 1987. He then served as Uganda’s Military Attache’ to Tanzania between 1988 and 1990. He has since undergone further training in several war colleges during the last 20 years. Among the key courses attended is the Strategic Military Studies in Egypt. It is a high level course that enables officers to study and analyse different military situations. Other courses attended include those at the China War College in China, Staff College Nigeria and other courses in Kenya and Uganda.
He served as a brigade commander in the 4th Division, Gulu from 1990 to 1992 and also as commander of the 3rd Division in Mbale. This Division was at the time responsible for areas of Teso, Karamoja and parts of Mbale. Around the time, he commanded in Mbale in the early 1990s, the war in Teso was just coming to an end. There was still some animosity between the National Resistance Army and the local population. However, Karuhanga worked to create harmony. “He used to lead trips into the villages, were he mixed up with the local population in order to create confidence,†one soldier said.
He also served as Commander of the 1st Division in Kakiri. “Afande Karuhanga listens. I served under him at Kakiri for over a year and I cannot remember him taking a decision without listening to us,†he says. Among his achievements while at Kakiri was overseeing renovation of the barracks, from a collection of small grass-thatched houses and dilapidated buildings, to one of the best barracks in the country today.
Karuhanga was overall leader of the Ugandan peacekeeping mission in Liberia and second in command of UN forces in Liberia. “In Liberia he distinguished himself as a leader. This is why choosing him for a peace-keeping command was obvious,†says Kulayigye.
At one time in Liberia, a group of rebels abducted several Ugandan peacekeepers. One would have expected their colleagues to attack and kill the enemy. However, Karuhanga and the overall commander Lt. Gen. Ivan Koreta decided to use persuasive measures. Eventually, the soldiers were released.
From Liberia, he served as commanding officer Africa Crisis Response Initiative, in 1997. This was a continental force trained by the US to respond to crisis in Africa.
Karuhanga is leading a command of experienced and battle hardened men. For example, Colonel Lawrence Kyazze who is in charge of the Mechanised and Motorised attachments and Lt. Colonel Peter Elwelu who is in charge of the Infantry Battalion.
Captain Paddy Ankunda, the force spokesman, has served in this capacity in different situations. He was once UPDF spokesman in the north, but at the time of his appointment, he was spokesperson of the Uganda peace team in Juba.
All the officers were specifically selected for the Somali deployment on account of their exemplary performance in service. Many of them have taken part in the various wars in the region, including fighting in the Congo and southern Sudan.
“It is a formidable force. It can handle any situation,†says Kulayigye.
Karuhanga was born on February 24, 1956 in Bushenyi District. He studied at Nyamitoma, Bweranyangi and Mwengura Primary Schools. He then joined Mbarara High School, before going to Nairobi for a Diploma in International Studies.
“He is a professional soldier. He is quiet by nature and I think this is what propels him on and on through all kinds of storms,†says a senior colleague.