UPDF officers voting their representatives in Parliament at Bombo
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) has explained why he never offered himself for election to represent the Uganda People Defence Forces (UPDF) in the 12th Parliament.
“I deliberately chose not to seek election as a Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Member of Parliament because my calling lies in active service rather than parliamentary politics,” he said.
He added that he did not stand because he believes that his greatest purpose is to serve the God of UPDF—the Almighty God—elsewhere: in the field, where men live and die. .
The UPDF Defence Council, sitting at the Land Force Headquarters, elected ten officers to represent the force in Parliament. Those elected are Lt Gen Sam Okiding, Lt Gen James Mugira, Lt Gen Sam Kavuma, Maj Gen Henry Matsiko, Maj Gen James Kinalwa, Maj Gen Joseph Ssemwanga, Brig David Robert Gonyi, Col Sylvia Meeme, Col Christine Nekesa, and Col Night Ikiriza.
The election was presided over by President Yoweri Museveni, the Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF, who chaired the Defence Council meeting convened specifically to elect the force’s parliamentary representatives.
In his address, President Museveni emphasized that effective political leadership is rooted in identifying and solving the people’s real and practical needs.
“Political leadership which succeeds does so because leaders accurately identify solvable needs and then solve them,” the President said.
The election was presided over by President Museveni, the Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF
Reflecting on the recently concluded elections, President Museveni observed a resurgence of public enthusiasm reminiscent of the 1996 polls, attributing the renewed confidence to the National Resistance Movement’s historical approach to governance.
He cited the establishment of a disciplined national army as the first major problem resolved by the NRM, noting that previous regimes were marked by indiscipline, brutality, and impunity.
“Ugandans had never seen a disciplined army. They were used to brutal armies, extrajudicial killings, and no accountability,” he said, recalling that even before taking power, the National Resistance Army earned public trust through strict discipline and respect for civilians.
Urging the newly elected UPDF legislators to remain focused, the President called on them to actively engage in solving the people’s problems and commended the UPDF for maintaining peace during the electoral process.
During the same event, Museveni commissioned three officer cadets to the rank of Second Lieutenant: 2Lt Bazalaki Tikula, a graduate of the Gen Sir John Kotelawala Defence University in Sri Lanka, and 2Lt Moses Ekoi and 2nd Lt Piloya Vivian, graduates of the Tanzania Military Academy.
Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama said the UPDF remains central to Uganda’s peace and stability, noting that the force’s democratic internal processes reinforce national security.
He said that the UPDF is the fulcrum of the peace, security, and stability that has prevailed and continues to prevail in Uganda.
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