KAMPALA – The Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has unleashed yet another sweeping shake-up within the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, recalling 13 Defence Attachés and Liaison Officers from key foreign missions in a move that has rattled the military establishment.
Insiders describe the operation as a calculated “clean-up” aimed at dismantling entrenched patronage networks, tightening discipline, and restoring professionalism within Uganda’s external military representation.
Highly placed sources at Mbuya indicate that the CDF is increasingly uncomfortable with what he views as “personal fiefdoms” built by some officers abroad—lucrative postings allegedly turned into long-term comfort zones and transactional outposts.
Old Guard Out, New Order In
At the centre of the shake-up is the replacement of senior officers—some of whom had spent extended periods in foreign deployments—with a new crop seen as loyal, media-savvy, and operationally sharp.
Among those recalled is Maj Gen Leopold Kyanda, who has been serving in Brussels, alongside a host of Brigadiers whose tours have been abruptly cut short.
Below is the full list of the new deployments and those affected:
| Country/Post | New Appointee | Officer Recalled |
|---|---|---|
| USA (Washington) | Col Deogratias Akiiki | Col Peter Sonko Buyungo |
| Belgium (Brussels) | Brig Gen Paddy Ankunda | Maj Gen Leopold Kyanda |
| Russia | Brig Gen Richard Rubongoya | Brig Patrick Mwesige |
| Rwanda | Col Ezekiel Matsiko | Brig Shilling Emmanuel |
| Ethiopia | Brig Gen Edward Mutaawe | Brig Fred Zaake |
| DR Congo | Brig Gen Paul Muwonge | Brig C.K. Asiimwe |
| Tanzania | Brig Gen Julius Mbaine | Brig Ronald Bigirwa |
| Burundi | Brig Gen Johnson Niwamanya | Brig S.N. Ochan |
| Algeria | Col Godfrey Kyomuhendo | Brig Muhindo Mawa |
| Saudi Arabia | Col Steve Swizen Mulindwa | Brig Winston Byaruhanga |
| UAE | Col Alex Tumushabe | Col Yunus Bagada |
| Somalia | Col Victor Busobozi Rukonge | Brig Francis Chemo |
| DRC (Beni Liaison) | Maj Abert Asiimwe Nomwesigwa | (New/Restructured) |
Strategic Messaging or Internal Purge?
The appointment of familiar figures such as former army spokespersons Col Deogratias Akiiki and Brig Gen Paddy Ankunda signals a deliberate shift towards officers who can shape narrative as much as they manage military diplomacy.
Analysts say this is not accidental.
By placing tested communicators in strategic capitals like Washington and Brussels, Muhoozi appears to be tightening both message control and loyalty within Uganda’s external security engagements.
The Bigger Picture
This latest purge reinforces a growing pattern: a military leadership unwilling to tolerate inertia, internal deal-making, or reputational risk at a time when Uganda’s regional and international security footprint is expanding.
For those recalled, the message is blunt—foreign deployment is no longer a reward scheme.
For those appointed, expectations are higher: deliver results, protect the institution’s image, and remain firmly in line.
With earlier crackdowns already hitting intelligence circles, attention now shifts to who could be next as the CDF continues to consolidate control over the force.
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