The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has made key leadership changes within the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), appointing Brigadier General Chris Bagonza as the new Chief of Staff – Land Force (COS-LF) and Colonel Nelson Aheebwa as Deputy Joint Staff Chief Political Commissar.
Brig Gen Bagonza, who previously served as Deputy Joint Staff – Human Resource Management at the Joint UPDF Services Headquarters in Mbuya, takes over the COS-LF role based in Bombo. He replaces Brig Gen Micheal Kabango, who was recently appointed Commandant of the Senior Command and Staff College – Kimaka in Jinja.
In a related development, Col Nelson Aheebwa has been named Deputy to Maj Gen Henry Masiko, who currently heads the Political Commissariat within the UPDF, a department crucial for ideological orientation and civil-military relations.
The appointments were confirmed in a statement issued by Col Chris Magezi, Acting Director of Defence Public Information, who noted that the changes take immediate effect.
“The UPDF fraternity congratulates the General and Senior Officers upon their well-deserved appointments and wishes them success in their new assignments,” Col Magezi stated.