Days after he elevated Apollo Muhanga Kayanja in rank and position, Gen Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni, the Ugandan President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, has appointed a new commander to steer Operation Shujaa.
An offensive against rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), Operation Shujaa is being undertaken by the Ugandan army (Uganda People’s Defence Forces – UPDF) and the Congolese army, Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC).
Following deadly attacks in Kampala in 2021, UPDF and FARDC launched joint air and artillery strikes against ADF.
For nearly one year, the man commanding Operation Shujaa was Maj Gen Kayanja Muhanga. Kayanja Muhanga was recently promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) and appointed the new Commander of the UPDF Land Forces.
Lt Gen Muhanga replaced Museveni’s son Muhoozi Kainerugaba who was dropped following careless tweets on his army’s ability to capture the Kenyan capital Nairobi within two weeks. Museveni elevated Muhoozi from the rank of Lieutenant General to a full General, the highest rank in the UPDF.
Muhoozi, who will retain the position of senior presidential advisor on special operations, has already handed over office to his successor Lt Gen Muhanga, and consequently announced his next plan, which is linked to the 2026 presidential election. (Read Story Here).
With Muhanga being elevated, the position of Operation Shujaa Commander became vacant. Now, Gen Museveni has appointed Lt Gen Muhanga’s replacement.
On October 12, Gen Museveni appointed Maj Gen Richard Prit Dick Olum as the Commander of Operation Shujaa and Commander of UPDF Mountain Division.
Maj Gen Olum was until Wednesday the Defence Advisor at Uganda’s Embassy in Kinshasa, DR Congo.
“HE the President and C-in-C of the UPDF Gen YK Museveni has appointed Maj Gen Dick Olum as the Commander of UPDF Mountain Division and also Commander of Operation Shujaa. Hitherto, Gen Olum has been the Defence Advisor at Uganda’s Embassy in Kinshasa,” the UPDF said in a statement.
“We congratulate the General officer and wish him the best in his new assignments.”
Meanwhile, Gen Muhoozi has revealed why he calls UPDF officers ‘my soldiers.’ (Read Story Here).
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