By Timothy Sibasi
The Uganda Peoples Defense Force Retirement Board has cleared 19 generals for the commander in Chief, Gen and president of Uganda Yoweri Museveni Kaguta to retire honorably at his official residence at State House Entebbe.
Notable on the list of retired general is four star General, Joram Mugume and slow stalled for army promotions, historical three star Lt Gen. Ivan Koreta.
The list also includes two star Major Generals. These include Maj Gen. Nathan Mugume he was among the first UPDF senior commanders to be deployed in the volatile war torn Somalia and later appointed to be Uganda’s Ambassador to Somalia a docket he has held to his retirement date, Maj Gen. Jim Wills Byaruhanga other than retiring as UPDF chief of training nothing much is known about him, Maj Gen. Samuel Turyagyenda has retired as UPDF Air Force commander. He was appointed to that position in May 2013, having been deputy commander of the Uganda Air Force. Turyagyenda is a professional pilot and a former police officer in the Uganda police force.
Maj Gen. Eng. Timothy Sabiti Mutebile is another notable figure among the four major generals who have been retired. He has retired while serving as the commander of the UPDF Engineering Brigade. However, before he was attached to the directorate of construction unit at Bombo Army headquarters in 2001 he faced a dark cloud in his soldiering career.
He was detained on two accounts, the first account was traveling abroad without seeking permission from his immediate bosses and the second count he was alleged to have drew money for two officers who did not travel with him. According to obtained documents on his file, Sabiiti had written to then Chief of Personnel and Administration, Brig. Steven Kashaka, saying he would travel with Capt. K. Binta and Capt. T. Kanyoma, both civil engineers attached to the UPDF Construction Unit. Maj Gen. Sabiti requisitioned for 34 million shillings to cover air tickets, visa and conference fees as well as per diem for 10 days for each of them but instead on June 3, Maj Gen. Sabiiti travelled alone to New York where he attended a UN Habitat conference that was held from June 6th to June 8th, 2001.
Among the other retired are 14 one star generals and these include, Brig Gen. George Gyagenda Kibirango, Brig Gen. Mathias Ssewankambo, Brig Gen. John Baptist Mulindwa, Brig Gen. David Kaboyo, Brig Gen. John Mary Kaganda, Brig Gen. Dr. Kenneth Ocen Obwot, Brig Gen. John Mugogo Tumwebaze, Brig Gen. Charless Wacha Angulo, Brig Gen. Ramadhan Kyamulesire, Brig Gen. Adolf Serwada, Brig Gen. Sam Kakuru, Brig Gen. John Charles Anywar, Brig Gen. Emmanuel Musinguzi, Brig Gen. and Francis Achoka Ongom.
As the 19 army generals bided farewell to an institution where joining is at free will but exiting is a hard nut to crack, names of two generals who were supposed to retire in this very bunch walked out of state house by the president, include maverick general David Sejjusa, who last having missed out on the slot of 11 generals who were retired said, “it is of no consequence for him to appear on the list of the retiring soldiers doesn’t need UPDF retirement.”
Gen. Sejjusa has for a long time rubbed feathers with the commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and president of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni Kaguta over malicious withholding him in the army with no deployment even after clocking the required age of retirement in the army.
The UPDF Retirement Board has never provided any explanation to Gen. Sejjusa why his retirement application has always been sidelined. However, sources close to Gen. Sejjusa have often intimated that his retirement sideline borders on his revelations of president Museveni harboring plans of making his son Lt Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba the next president of Uganda after him. A project Gen. Sejjusa code named “Muhoozi project”, while on alive television interview with Voice of Africa ‘VOA’ prominent show, Straight Talk Africa hosted by Ugandan born Shaka Ssali.
The other general who’s retirement was due today was embattled Gen. Edward Kale Kayihura who’s fate over dealings with the Rwanda government, unlawful repatriation of Rwandan refugees from Uganda to Rwanda and murdered in cold blood this against international law on refugees and their right to live, among other treasonable offenses hangs in a balance, hence making his retirement a food for thought matter and a security risk to Uganda.
This retirement of 19 generals has brought the number of retired generals from UPDF to 30 after 11 were retired last year.
