KAMPALA — Brig Gen Paddy Ankunda has formally assumed office as Uganda’s Defence Attaché to the European Union Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
Ankunda took over the assignment on Friday, August 14, 2026, during a handover ceremony held at the Training and Instruction Support Unit (TISU) in Kololo, Kampala.
The ceremony was presided over by the Chief of Joint Staff of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), Lt Gen Jack Bakasumba, who oversaw the formal transfer of the instruments of office from the outgoing Defence Attaché, Maj Gen Leopold Eric Kyanda.
In his new role, Brig Gen Ankunda will represent Uganda’s defence interests at the European Union headquarters and will also be accredited to Belgium, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
The assignment comes as Uganda continues to strengthen its defence and security cooperation with European countries and institutions.
The handover was attended by senior UPDF officers, including the Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, Maj Gen Richard Otto; Joint Staff Finance, Brig Gen Robert Mugabe; and the UPDF Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) chief, Brig Gen Michael Kibuye.
Maj Gen Kyanda, who handed over the assignment, is among the senior UPDF officers scheduled to formally retire from the force next week.
He is expected to join other General Officers at a retirement ceremony scheduled for August 20, 2026, at State House Entebbe.
The Brussels assignment places Brig Gen Ankunda at the centre of Uganda’s military diplomacy with the EU and the four European countries to which he is accredited.