Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has credited a generation of senior military officers with helping build the professional and resilient force that the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces has become, as 222 officers formally retired from active service.
Speaking at the UPDF Joint Services Headquarters in Mbuya during the retirement ceremony for Batch 16, Gen. Kainerugaba said the departing Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels and Majors had contributed to an institutional foundation that would continue to shape the army long after their departure.
“These achievements rest on the foundation laid by committed officers, such as those we honor today,” he said.
The ceremony offered a moment of transition for the officers, many of whom had spent decades in military service, while also underscoring the changing demands facing Uganda’s armed forces.
Gen. Kainerugaba said the UPDF had evolved from its origins in the liberation struggle into a force required to respond to a broader range of security challenges. He cited terrorism, cybercrime and climate-related disasters among the emerging threats that demand greater technological capacity and adaptability.
“From its origin in the liberation struggle, our force has grown into one of the most professional militaries on the African continent,” he said, urging the institution to continue modernising, strengthening joint operations and maintaining high standards of discipline, accountability and readiness.
Retirement as a new form of service
For the retiring officers, Gen. Kainerugaba framed the end of active military duty not as a withdrawal from public life but as a transition into another form of national service.
He urged the retirees to use their experience in their communities, particularly by mentoring younger people, promoting peace and contributing to local development.
“I encourage you to see this not as the end of service, but as a new phase in your contributions to the country,” he said. “Uganda still needs your experience, wisdom, and leadership.”
The CDF also cautioned the officers to approach retirement with financial discipline, urging them to plan carefully, invest prudently and protect the benefits accumulated during their years of service.
“I encourage you to use your retirement benefits wisely, plan carefully, invest prudently, and maintain financial discipline,” he said.
Gen. Kainerugaba also recognised the role of the government and President Yoweri Museveni, the Commander-in-Chief of Uganda’s armed forces, in supporting the development of the UPDF.
He said the government remained committed to building a modern and capable defence force.
Families share in the honour
The CDF reserved particular recognition for the families of the retiring officers, acknowledging the demands that military careers place on spouses, children and relatives.
Military service, he said, often requires prolonged separation, difficult assignments and a readiness to place duty ahead of personal comfort.
“Today this honor belongs to them as well,” Gen. Kainerugaba said, referring to the families who supported the officers throughout their careers.
Col. Kajungu Rutiinampora, the most senior officer among the retirees, spoke on behalf of the outgoing cohort.
He thanked President Museveni, Gen. Kainerugaba and the wider UPDF leadership for what he described as their efforts toward peace and stability in Uganda, the region and Africa. He also commended the military leadership for initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of soldiers and their families.
Rutiinampora said the retirees would continue to represent the UPDF in their communities, particularly through civil-military cooperation.
He also praised the teamwork between senior and junior officers, saying cohesion within the ranks had been important to the strength of the institution.
A final farewell
The ceremony ended with a symbolic departure.
Gen. Kainerugaba, Deputy CDF Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding, Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Charles Okidi, Special Forces Command Commander Maj. Gen. Asaph Mwetesie and other senior commanders lined up at the Mbuya headquarters to bid farewell to the departing officers.
The retirees marched through the headquarters gates, marking their formal transition from active military service to civilian life.
For the UPDF, the ceremony was both a farewell and a reminder of the institutional continuity between generations: officers leaving active duty carrying decades of experience, while a younger generation assumes responsibility for an army facing an increasingly complex security environment.
