Thursday, June 30, 2011
The reshuffle, according to our military source, is mainly aimed at boosting the AMISOM offensive against Al Shabaab extremists in Mogadishu, Somalia. The changes, according to the military source based in the Somali capital, have seen three Mogadishu-based Majors promoted to lieutenant colonel, albeit in acting capacity.
They are Paddy Ankunda, Chris Ogumiraki and Joab Ndahura, the 1st battalion commander. Ankunda continues to serve as commander, communications/public relations, for AMISOM, a Ugandan and Burundian peacekeeping force that is defending Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed’s Transitional Federal Government in the name of the African Union.
Back home, Museveni has appointed Col Apollo Kasita Gowa as the new deputy commandant of the Jinja-based Senior Staff and Training College, Kimaka. Col Gowa, until this appointment, has been attending a military course abroad.
Similarly, Museveni has appointed Col Stephen Kashure, who has been attending a course abroad, to oversee foreign training in the East African Community (EAC).
Lt Col Godwin Karugaba has been moved to command the school of logistics and engineering, formerly Uganda Mechanical Engineering College, based at the former Lugazi university campus.
We have been told that the new college is to be affiliated to the Uganda Management Institute (UMI) for purposes of offering management courses at certificate and diploma levels. Other changes see Lt Col Chris Bossa moved from the position of commandant, Singo Training School, to that of deputy inland training, and Col Kaganda appointed deputy training for auxiliary forces (URA, LDUs), plus coordination with reserve forces.
Col Dr Ambrose Musinguzi has been retained as deputy chief of training in charge of public health training, while Lt Col Sebugwawo has been transferred and reappointed as logistics commander. Just like Col Gowa, Lt Col Fred Kiyingi has been recalled from a course abroad and transferred to the air force, while Lt Col Dick Lutaaya has been appointed as a senior officer, general duties in the chief of air force’s office.
Col Okiding has been appointed acting commander, field artillery division (FAD), and Lt Col Kakuru moved from chief of training to director of personnel and administration for land forces. Lt Col Frank Kyambadde has been transferred to field artillery division operation and training (FA Doto), from the rocket and artillery brigade.
Lt Col Vincent Labii Okello has been transferred from Kimaka and appointed artillery and air defence division administrative officer (AD-DAO). Lt Col Adolf Dicky Serwada has been transferred from logistics to acting brigade commander, while Maj Santurino Tumuranzye has been transferred to head the Kabamba military academy.
Lt Col E. Kwihangana has been appointed to the department of logistics of the air force, while Maj D Polly has been appointed, in acting capacity, to command the rocket and artillery brigade