President Museveni last Friday announced more changes to the army leadership, the second announcement in two days.
In the new changes, middle-aged officers without strong ties to the bush war further tightened their grip on the army leadership. Brigadier Richard Karemire becomes the new army spokesman, replacing Lt Col Paddy Ankunda. Before his new posting, Karemire was the deputy chief of military intelligence.
According to his official profile circulated by the Uganda Media Centre, Karemire, 53, joined the army in 1985. He holds a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the Army War College in Carlisle, USA.
Karemire has spent some time in military intelligence circles having worked as head, external intelligence, and director of counter intelligence in CMI. Speaking to NTV on Friday, Karemire said he will make the army a pro-people force.
“We have to work together with civilians because without them there is no army,” he said, according to a video posted on YouTube.
Wishing his successor well, Lt Col Ankunda told The Observer on Saturday that he was still waiting for redeployment.
“Reshuffles are normal and part of the growth of institutions,” he said.
Another eye-catching change was the removal of Col Felix Kulayigye, the former army’s chief political commissar. Kulayigye was replaced by Brig Henry Matsiko who has been heading a secretariat dealing with patriotism.
Kulayigye was in June last year named in a gold theft scandal after he allegedly raided a private company following a gold transaction, which involved his niece, going bad. The army suspended him briefly only to reinstate him after investigations reportedly found him innocent.
Kulayigye is also one of the 10 army representatives in parliament. In other changes, Brigadier Paul Lokech, who has been a military attaché in Russia, was named commander of the 2nd division. He replaces Maj Gen Peter Elwelu who was named commander land forces in an earlier shake-up.
Proscovia Nalweyiso, who works in State House, was promoted to major general, a rank no other woman has attained in Ugandan history. Brig Sam Kavuma, who has been commander of the 5th division, was appointed deputy commander Air Forces. Brig Michael Kabango, who has been the defence attaché to Somalia, is the new commander of the 5th division.
Maj Gen Nakibus Lakara was appointed commander of the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Centre, while Brig George Igumba, who has been deputy commandant of Senior Command and Staff College, Kimaka, was appointed Chief of Personnel and Administration.
Igumba replaces Major General Joseph Musanyufu who was earlier elevated to the position of Joint Chief of Staff. Col Patrick Mwesigye, who has been at the National Leadership Institute – Kyankwanzi, replaces Brig Henry Matsiko as head of the Patriotism Clubs Secretariat.
ekiggundu@observer.ug