Gen. Sejusa, Gen. Tumwine among the UPDF officers set to retire
By Racheal Nuwahereza
At least 49 generals are set to retire from the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) in July 2022.
According to the list, two officers at the rank of General, three lieutenant generals, 10 officers at the rank of Major General and 19 brigadiers will be officially relieved of active service.
In a statement released by the UPDF on Thursday, the 3-day documentation and sensitization exercise for the impending UPDF retirees was concluded at the Land Force headquarters in Bombo.
The statement also revealed that the last batch (batch 12) of the exercise which is specifically for about 49 General Officers impending retirement is set to be conducted on 16th and 17th May 2022 at Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs/UPDF General Headquarters in Mbuya in the Chief of Personnel and Administration boardroom.
Among the notable senior army officers set to retire is the former coordinator of Intelligence Agencies, Gen David Sejusa, a renegade officer, coordinator of intelligence services and a senior presidential adviser who first applied to leave the army in 1996, former Security minister, Gen Elly Tumwine who shot first NRA bullet, the long serving chairperson of General Court Martial; Lt Gen Andrew Gutti, , Lt Gen Prossy Nalweyiso, first female UPDF General attached to State House, Lt Gen John Mugume, Maj Gen Elly Kayanja, the Operation Wembley lord that rid Kampala city of violent crime, Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary, Maj Gen Kyomukama Kasura, Maj Gen Stephen Kashaka, Maj Gen Joram Kakari and Maj Gen Phenehas Kaitirima, Maj Gen Geoffrey Muhesi, Maj Gen Burundi Nyamunywanisa, Maj Gen Michael Odonga, a two-time commander of AMISOM, currently attached to Saudi Arabia, Maj Gen Gavas Mugyenyi, and Maj Gen Octavius Buturo among others.
An independent research by this publication established that most of those to retire are part of the 1986 National Resistance Army liberation war that brought the current government into power.
According to sources in the military, the retirement of the top generals, most of whom are Bush War heroes, is set to be followed by a major promotion of other officers as the army leadership undergoes a transition.
The UPDF Conditions and Terms of Service provide that it’s illegal to keep army officers in active service once they clock a certain age but are not promoted to the next rank. For instance, at the age of 40, if a captain is not promoted to major, the army must retire that officer.
Section 28, Cap 307 of the UPDF law, Terms of Service specifically indicates that from the rank of Lieutenant to Captain, one can apply for early retirement at 40 years, while a major can leave service at 45. A lieutenant colonel can retire at 47 and a colonel at 51.
From the rank of 2nd Lieutenant to General, an officer can rightly apply for retirement after 14 years of service, while for the lower ranks, one can retire after nine years of service.
