In a decisive move toward leadership renewal, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) is set to retire seven senior generals within the coming month.
The development, which UPDF officials describe as part of an ongoing process of institutional renewal, underscores the changing of the guard within one of East Africa’s most influential armed forces.
At the top of the retirement list is Lieutenant General Peter Elwelu, the former Deputy Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and the most senior officer among the retirees.
A three-star general, Lt Gen Elwelu leaves behind a storied and sometimes controversial legacy that spans decades of military service, leadership, and frontline command.
Lt Gen Elwelu, who served as Deputy CDF from June 2021 until March 2024, previously held the powerful post of Commander of Land Forces (2017–2021), making him the third-highest-ranking officer in the UPDF during that time.
His command resume also includes leading the UPDF 2nd Division in Mbarara, a role that thrust him into the national spotlight during the 2016 assault on the Rwenzururu Kingdom Palace in Kasese, a military operation that resulted in over 150 deaths and the arrest of King Charles Wesley Mumbere.
The incident drew both domestic and international scrutiny. Earlier in his career, Elwelu was among the first UPDF commanders deployed in Somalia under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in 2007, where Ugandan forces played a foundational role in stabilizing the Horn of Africa nation.
Distinguished Peers Exit the Stage
Joining Lt Gen Elwelu in retirement are three Major Generals: Hudson Mukasa, Francis Ben Okello, and George Igumba, each of whom brings decades of operational and strategic military experience to a close.
Maj Gen Mukasa, who has served as Uganda’s Military Attaché to Kenya since 2016, began his military journey with the National Resistance Army (NRA) in 1983.
A veteran of multiple command and diplomatic postings, he led the UPDF 2nd Division and 5th Division and was instrumental in operations against the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in Northern Uganda.
His international training includes senior command courses in Ghana and Kenya, a testament to his extensive leadership development.
Maj Gen Francis Ben Okello, best known for his role as the second commander of AMISOM from 2008 to 2009, later helmed Uganda’s Senior Command and Staff College (USCSC), the UPDF’s premier institution for strategic-level military training.
His leadership helped shape the next generation of UPDF senior officers across the army, air force, and special forces.
Until recently, Maj Gen George Igumba also served as commandant of the USCSC, continuing the legacy of high-level officer training established by the late Maj Gen Benon Biraaro, the institution’s founding leader.
A Salute to Service
Three brigadiers—John Byuma, Dominic Twesigomwe, and Augustine Kamyuka Kyazze—complete the cohort of senior officers stepping down.
Together, the seven generals have contributed significantly to Uganda’s national defense, peacekeeping operations, and military diplomacy.
Speaking during the retirement documentation process, Maj Gen Jack Bakasumba, the UPDF’s Chief of Joint Staff, lauded the officers for their exceptional dedication, particularly in areas such as peace support operations and capacity building.
“These leaders have made remarkable contributions to national and regional peace, especially through international missions such as those in Somalia,” he said.
He emphasized that retirement should not be seen as an end, but rather as a transition into another chapter of life.
Quoting American biochemist Betty Sullivan, he added: “There is a whole new kind of life ahead, full of experience, just waiting to happen. Some call it retirement, I call it bliss.”
Planning for the Future
As part of broader reforms, the UPDF is also considering amendments to the UPDF Act, 2005, aimed at improving the welfare of retired officers.
These proposed changes would provide guaranteed access to healthcare, disability compensation, and ceremonial burial honours.
Lt Col Onesmus Amanya, Deputy Director for Compensation, Pensions, and Gratuity, urged the retiring generals to carry the discipline and integrity of their military careers into civilian life.
“Be mindful of your health and conduct,” he advised. “The values you upheld in uniform will continue to define you.”
Institutional Renewal in Action
The retirement of such high-ranking figures highlights a deliberate institutional strategy by the UPDF to pave the way for a younger generation of military leaders.
It reflects a modern military ethos that values not only battlefield experience but also planned leadership succession and organizational continuity.
As these generals lay down their arms and don civilian attire, the UPDF turns a page, honoring the past while charting a new course for the future.
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