I Fight Alongside My ‘Girls’; If We Are To Die, I Die With Them.” – Maj. General Dick Olum

By Ivan Kaahwa

In the thickets of Congo, where ADF rebels hide to launch atrocities, is where the Mountain Division Commander, Major General Dick Olum, tactfully operates to wipe out the rebel outfit that has long posed threats. He assumed the responsibility from the current Land Forces Commander, Lieutenant General Kayanja Muhanga, who initially launched an offensive against the ADF on November 30th 2021.

Major General Dick Olum is an outspoken General who commands with authority and confidence when he speaks, even in the crossfire and line of duty. He displays exceptional courage, and every soldier moving with him exudes a thunderous presence. He has achieved feats previously unseen in Uganda, and he is protected by well-trained, tall, and brave female UPDF soldiers.

Several female officers are visibly present as he maneuvers during operations, and the level of connection between them is as close as cloud and rain. On numerous occasions, he has proudly stated that he is protected by the “girls,” a phrase he uses to describe his female officers, and he feels 100% secure in their presence.

While female officers face challenges like any other women, Olum ensures they are prepared and subjects them to rigorous drills to carry out operations akin to their male counterparts. These female soldiers are exposed to combat and demonstrate a high level of obedience to their commander, executing tasks equivalent to males in the jungles.

Major General Dick Olum once stated, “If it is about appreciating your security, then it is also about enhancing the capability of these girls to fight and protect me. When they fight, they don’t fight alone; I fight with them. If anything happens, it concerns all of us. If it is death, then all of us go.”

He is confident that female soldiers can do more than him, which is why he subjects them to rigorous physical exercises and accompanies them everywhere he goes to ensure they get accustomed.

Olum has transformed their mindset from feminism to a male perspective, though he acknowledges the weakness of seeking favor through dishonesty. He turns a deaf ear to lies and is committed to having a female crew that fears none.

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