KAMPALA — Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has appointed Brig Gen Asaph Mweteise Nyakikuru as the acting Commander of the Special Forces Command (SFC), with immediate effect.
The appointment, announced on Monday by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), also elevates Brig Gen Nyakikuru to the acting rank of Major General.
According to a statement issued by the Acting Director of Defence Public Information, Col Chris Magezi, the new acting commander replaces Maj Gen David Mugisha, who is expected to leave the country in the coming months to undertake the prestigious National Defence College (NDC) course abroad.
“The Chief of Defence Forces UPDF and Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations (SPA/SO), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has appointed Brig Gen Asaph Mweteise Nyakikuru the acting Commander of the Special Forces Command (SFC). Brig Gen Nyakikuru is also granted the acting rank of Major General. The appointment and promotion take immediate effect,” the statement said.
The UPDF commended Maj Gen Mugisha for his leadership during his tenure as commander of the elite force and wished him success in his strategic security studies.
“The UPDF thanks Major General David Mugisha for the outstanding tour of duty as Commander SFC and wishes him good luck in his strategic security studies. We also congratulate Acting Major General Asaph Mweteise Nyakikuru on his deserved appointment and promotion. We also wish him good luck in his new duties,” Col Magezi added.
Before his appointment, Nyakikuru served as Deputy Commander of the Special Forces Command and has held several key command positions within the UPDF, including Commander of the Commando Brigade.
He has participated in a number of military operations in Uganda and the wider region, including counter-terrorism operations against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo under Operation Shujaa, peace support missions in Somalia, and operations against the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in northern Uganda.
The Special Forces Command is one of the UPDF’s elite formations, mandated to protect the President, secure strategic national installations and undertake special military operations.
The appointment is part of the UPDF’s ongoing leadership rotation and professional development programme, which periodically deploys senior officers to command positions and strategic military education institutions.