ENTEBBE– President Yoweri Museveni also Commander in Chief of the armed forces, has retired eleven generals from active service of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
The officers retired at a function held at State House in Entebbe July 4 include Maj. Gen Joshua Masaba, Maj. Gen Ali Kiiza, Maj. Gen Kasirye Gwanga and Maj. Gen. Hussein Adda.
Others are Maj. Gen James Ssebaggala, Maj. Gen John Mateeka, Brig. Jacob Musajjawaza, Brig. Yowasi Kiiza, Brig. Stephen Othieno, Brig. Olanya Ojata and Brig. Mark Ayiasi Kodili.
This is the first time the UPDF has retired the biggest number of Generals at ago. All the generals that have been retired in this group joined the army before 1986, when president Museveni took over power.
According to the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Lt Gen Wilson Mbadi, six Brigadiers and five Major Generals will retire on July 9 including Maj Gen Hussein Adda, the longest serving UPDF General.
Maj Gen Adda has been serving as Camp Commandant of Bombo Barracks since 1997 and he has served the army for 55 years.
“We are retiring 11 officers to demystify reports that we don’t retire senior officers,” he said without divulging details.
Despite the assertions by the deputy CDF, Gen David Sejusa, who has had a longstanding conflict with the military after the UPDF leadership refused to retire him since 1997, again, recently petitioned the High Court seeking to compel the authorities to retire him. The army is still holding him.
Maj Gen Adda at his send-off party on July 3 said he is retiring a satisfied officer.
“I’m retiring satisfied and I want to assure the people of Bombo that the army will continue working closely with them. Don’t feel sad because I am leaving,” he said.
Maj Gen Adda, according to Maj Gen Elwelu, has been “a strong link” between the UPDF and Bombo town residents.
