The Commander of the Special Forces Command (SFC), Maj. Gen. David Mugisha, has praised President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who is also the Commander-In-Chief of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), for developing a strong and professional army.
“In a very special way, I want to take this opportunity to thank the President of the Republic of Uganda, Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, for establishing and building the UPDF from a small force to a mighty, professional, and capable army that is able to defend the Constitution and protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Uganda,” Maj. Gen. Mugisha said.
Maj. Gen. Mugisha made these remarks during the handover ceremony where Brig. Gen. Charity Bainababo transferred the office of the Deputy Commander of SFC to Brig. Gen. Asaph Mweteise Nyakikuru at the SFC Headquarters in Entebbe. Brig. Gen. Nyakikuru, formerly the Commander of SFC’s Commando Brigade, was recently appointed Deputy Commander of the SFC by President Museveni. Brig. Gen. Bainababo will now attend an advanced course at the National Defence College (NDC).
Maj. Gen. Mugisha also expressed gratitude to the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, for entrusting him with the responsibility of overseeing the handover ceremony.
“In the same spirit, allow me to applaud the CDF for his patriotic conviction, gallantry, mentorship of leaders, and his passion for training, which has galvanized and solidified SFC personnel in the fight for peace and the general pacification of the fraternal sister nations,” he added.
Maj. Gen. Mugisha commended Brig. Bainababo for being an exemplary leader with whom he has had a long working relationship since their training days at Kaweweta.
“To the outgoing DCSFC, Brig. Gen. Charity Bainababo, we have toiled together since our military infancy. Our initiation into the military, soldiering as young recruits, cadets, junior officers, staff officers, and now Generalship, invokes a strong sense of spiritual joy and growth. I’m grateful for your zeal, commitment, dedication, selflessness, and exemplary foresight in the accomplishment of tasks,” Maj. Gen. Mugisha asserted.
He wished her well as she moves to the highest pinnacle of military training.
To the incoming SFC Deputy Commander, Maj. Gen. Mugisha congratulated Brig. Gen. Nyakikuru on his appointment by the President.
“I have all the confidence that with your experience in command of the mighty Commandos, together we shall achieve,” he said.
Brig. Gen. Bainababo congratulated Brig. Gen. Nyakikuru on his elevation to the second-highest office in the structure of SFC. She also thanked the President for giving her the opportunity to serve in various offices under the SFC.
Brig. Gen. Nyakikuru thanked the President and the CDF for appointing and nominating him, respectively. He also thanked Brig. Gen. Bainababo for her meticulous execution of tasks and assured the Commander of the SFC that the office would remain dynamic. He called for teamwork to ensure effective fulfilment of their mandate.
On the same occasion, the outgoing Director of Civil Military Cooperation, Col. Gilbert Owamagyezi, handed over office to his successor, Lt. Col. Moses Musinguzi. Col. Owamagyezi emphasized that the Directorate of CIMIC is responsible for nurturing soldiers through ideological development, a core value for the SFC. He urged the incoming director to focus on entrenching ideological orientation.
“It’s very important to maintain the strategic relationship with the civilian population if we are to remain a pro-people’s force,” he emphasized.