President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who is also the Commander in Chief of the armed forces has retired 48 generals of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces at a ceremony held at State House Entebbe Wednesday. 

General Elly Tumwine, who died on 25th August and buried on Tuesday 30th August 2022 was supposed to be the 49th of the retiring generals.

Speaking at the send-off ceremony, Museveni called upon the retiring officers to use the opportunity to create wealth for themselves now that Government is able to send them off with some good remuneration.

Museveni urged them to buy land and practice the four-acre model of agriculture and venture into coffee, fruits, pasture for animals (zero-grazing), food, chicken and pigs in the backyard, fishing near the swamps among others.

He was happy that the UPDF is retiring officers unlike the army of 1971, when many Acholi and Langi officers were killed by the Idi Amin group which was coming in. That was their retirement.

Among the notable retirees, most of whom were part of the 1986 National Resistance Army liberation group that brought the current government to power include RO 00031 Gen. David Sejusa who is a former Coordinator of Intelligence Services, and Lt. Gen. Andrew Gutti, formerly Chairman of the General Court Martial. Others include RO 00087 Lt. Gen. John Mugume, RO 00038 Maj. Gen. Steven Kashaka, RO 00073 Maj. Gen. Joram Kakaari Tumwine, RO 00122 Maj. Gen. Manon Katirima Phinehas, RO 00167 Maj. Gen. Elly Kayanja, RO 00266 Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Balaba Muheesi and Uganda’s most decorated female military officer and RO 00217 Lt. Gen. Proscovia Nalweyiso, who is currently serving as Special Presidential Advisor on Defence and Security.

Maj. Gen. George Igumba, the UPDF Chief of Personnel and Administration, informed the President that 267 senior officers at the rank of Major to Colonel, who are part of batch 12, were seen off  on Tuesday 30th August. 11 batches have been seen off since 2014 making a total of 9026 officers who have been retired since then.

Igumba said this time for batch 12, the plan was to retire 2,539 personnel, including 75 general officers, 429 senior officers, 275 junior officers, and 1,760 militants but the number was reduced tremendously to only 316 officers due to budgetary limitations.

The most senior retiring officer, Gen. Sejusa on behalf of retiring officers paid tribute to Museveni for providing leadership during the struggle, the army leadership, and the people of Uganda without which there wouldn’t be peace.

The ceremony held at State House Entebbe was attended by, among others, the Minister of State for Defense, Hon. Jacob Oboth Oboth, the Minister of State for Veteran Affairs, Oleru Huda, friends, and families of retiring officers.

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