NAKASEKE — The Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) and Senior Presidential Advisor on Defence, Gen (Rtd) Caleb Akandwanaho, popularly known as Gen Salim Saleh, has identified information warfare as one of the most significant challenges confronting modern militaries, warning that armed forces must adapt to rapidly changing forms of conflict.
Speaking during an engagement with Defence Attachés accredited to Uganda at the Heritage Farm Command Post in Kirema, Nakaseke District, Gen Saleh said the character of warfare has evolved beyond traditional battlefield confrontations, requiring security institutions to develop new strategies and capabilities.
Drawing from Uganda’s liberation struggle and subsequent security experiences, Gen Saleh noted that contemporary threats increasingly manifest through information campaigns, public mobilisation, and other unconventional methods.
“We started looking at other forms of warfare that we did not expect,” Gen Saleh said.
He urged Defence Attachés and military officers to continuously acquire knowledge and skills that will enable them to understand and effectively respond to emerging security dynamics.
According to Gen Saleh, modern armies must not only focus on military preparedness but also remain attentive to developments within society, particularly the socio-economic realities affecting citizens.
“There is a need for armies to understand what is happening in society and the socio-economic conditions of the people,” he said.
The veteran military strategist explained that reforms within the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) were guided by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s vision of a military institution that actively contributes to national development alongside its traditional security responsibilities.
Gen Saleh said this thinking inspired programmes that have strengthened the relationship between the military and communities, including Operation Wealth Creation and the Parish Development Model.
“He envisaged a force capable of contributing to food security, participating in wealth creation, and eventually manufacturing some of its own requirements and equipment,” Gen Saleh explained.
The meeting also highlighted the role of economic empowerment in strengthening national stability.
Acting Deputy Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation, Brig Gen. Godfrey Muwanguzi, underscored the importance of agriculture as a driver of household income and poverty reduction. He noted that the four-acre model encourages families to maximise productivity through a combination of crop cultivation and livestock farming.
Representing the Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, Maj Gen Richard Otto, Col Allan Matsiko, the Assistant Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security responsible for Defence Engagements and International Affairs, expressed appreciation to Gen Saleh for sharing insights on Uganda’s liberation history, the evolution of the UPDF and the role of Operation Wealth Creation in national development.
The engagement was also attended by the Secretary General of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Hon. Richard Todwong, and the Commander of the 1st Infantry Division, Brig Gen Fred Mwesigye, among other senior military and government officials.
The discussions formed part of ongoing efforts to deepen understanding among foreign military representatives about Uganda’s security outlook, defence reforms and development-oriented military initiatives.