Fort Portal — The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has appointed Brigadier Paul Muwonge as the new Commander of the UPDF Mountain Infantry Division, headquartered in Fort Portal, western Uganda.
Brigadier Muwonge, previously the division’s Deputy Commander, will take over from Major General James Birungi, who has been redeployed to Bujumbura, Burundi, as Uganda’s Military Attaché and Defence Advisor.
“This appointment is part of our continued efforts to strengthen the strategic leadership of the UPDF and enhance regional security cooperation,” said Colonel Chris Magezi, Military Assistant to the CDF, in an official statement.
Major General Birungi had only recently assumed command of the Mountain Infantry Division in April, following a strategic position swap with Major General Richard Otto, who had served as the division’s commander before becoming Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security (CDIS).
Brigadier Simon Ochan, Uganda’s Defence Attaché in Bujumbura, has completed his diplomatic tour and will report back to the Joint UPDF Services Headquarters for reassignment.
Brigadier Muwonge now also assumes overall command of Operation Shujaa, a joint military initiative between the UPDF and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) targeting the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an armed terrorist group entrenched in parts of eastern DRC. Muwonge had recently accompanied General Muhoozi on an official mission to Kinshasa, further underscoring his rising role in regional military engagements.
The UPDF has lauded the appointments as critical to ongoing regional operations and has expressed confidence in the leadership of the newly assigned officers. “The UPDF fraternity congratulates the General Officers upon their new appointments and wishes them success in their duties,” added Colonel Magezi.