Maj Gen James Birungi, the commander of Defence Intelligence and Security (DIS) and formerly Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), has been appointed the commander of Shujaa operations and Mountain Infantry Division.
Maj Gen Birungi has been replaced with Maj Gen Richard Otto, the Mountain Division commander. The new appointments, according to Col Chris Magezi, the acting Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) spokesperson, have been made by the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
“The Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kaineruga has appointed has appointed the Mountain Infantry Division Commander, Maj Gen Richard Otto, the new Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security,” Col Magezi said.
Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba is the first CDF to have the authority to appoint and transfer UPDF officers at the rank of General. During the reign of Gen Edward Katumba Wamala, Gen David Muhoozi and Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, all key UPDF appointments were being made by President Yoweri Museveni, who is the Commander-in-Chief (CIC) of all armed forces.
Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba is empowered by the new UPDF establishment, which was launched by Museveni barely two years ago. All the last three CDFs, Gen Katumba, Gen David Muhoozi and Gen Mbadi, had no powers even to transfer a Lieutenant Colonel without the signature of Museveni.
But since Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s arrival as CDF a year ago, he has not only been able to transfer army officers in the General category, but he has also promoted some to Major General, which is the second highest rank of UPDF structure. A few months ago, Gen Muhoozi promoted four Brigadier Generals to Major General, and these include Felix Kulayigye, Charles Byanyima, Daniel Kakono and Deus Sande to Major General.
He has now transferred two Major Generals, Richard Otto and Charles Birungi.
Col Magezi says that the UPDF fraternity has already sent congratulatory messages to the General officers on their new appointments and wishes them good luck in their future endeavours.
“The Mountain Infantry Division Commander also serves as the Joint Task Force Commander of UPDF troops under Operation Shujaa in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The changes take immediate effect,” Col Magezi explained.
Maj Otto replaced Maj Gen Dick Olum after the latter’s tenure as Shujaa operations commander show Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) sneaked into the country in June, 2023 and killed more than 40 students at Lhubiriha secondary school at Mpondwe town at the Uganda-DRC border.
UPDF deployed in DRC in November 2021 after bomb blasts linked to ADF in Kampala, which left six civilians and three suicide bombers dead. At least 23 police officers and 18 civilians were injured in the various bomb blasts in Kampala.