Special Forces Command Promotes Senior and Junior officers, tasked with operationalizing the new UPDF establishment.

By Ivan Kaahwa

The commander of the Special Forces Command (SFC), Brig Gen. David Mugisha, has advised SFC soldiers to seek God’s guidance, be patriotic, and remain focused to excel in their careers. He emphasized the importance of maintaining good health and keeping Africa, including Uganda and East Africa, at heart.

Brig. Gen. Mugisha boosted morale for the elite force at the decoration and pipping ceremony of the newly promoted SFC Senior and Junior officers at SFC Headquarters in Entebbe. Sixty officers and 193 militants were decorated, including 23 Captains, 6 Majors, and 9 Lt. Colonels. This became a reality after the Commander-In-Chief of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, exercised the powers vested in him under Article 98 Clause (1) of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda; and Section 20 Subsection (3) (d) of the UPDF Act No 7 of 2005, to promote 382 and confirm 13 senior and junior officers to various ranks ranging from captain to Brig. General.

Brig. Gen. Mugisha congratulated the officers for their well-deserved elevation, quoting the Bible that considers promotion as a preserve of God while acknowledging that people, circumstances, character, or qualifications may seem to be immediate causes of elevation; they are mere tools.He said promotion is a call to more duties, responsibilities, and other undertakings that require the right approach, conscious discipline, extraordinary commitment to service, consultation, and strategic decision making.

Brig. Gen. Mugisha further implored the officers to take part in the operationalization of the newly launched UPDF establishment in their units to address emerging challenges and build strong teams to solidify their position in ensuring peace and stability in Uganda. He reminded them to use revolutionary methods of work such as committee meetings, accepting open criticism, and having revolutionary shame in case of errors while in service. “Reflect on a bigger picture of leadership and ensure respect for each other in the vertical and horizontal compartments of the UPDF,” he stated. Mugisha encouraged those yet to be considered for promotion to remain focused, emphasizing that leadership shall always conduct promotions to boost the morale of its personnel.

Brig. Gen. Mugisha commended President Museveni for his visionary stewardship and unwavering determination that has made UPDF a strong force to reckon with. “UPDF boasts efficiency, effectiveness, versatility, competence, reliability, productivity, pro-people policies, and the ability to secure, safeguard, and pacify Uganda, East Africa, and the entire Africa, anchored on the philosophy of patriotism, Pan-Africanism, and socio-economic transformation.”He implored the UPDF strategic leadership under the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Wilson Mbadi, for always keeping the army in check. “SFC acknowledges his constant strategic invaluable efforts towards building a strong UPDF and above all supplementing the efforts of having a highly motivated, versatile, and clear force through promotion, training, and tasking the different echelons. “He also lauded the Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, for undertaking the establishment, development, equipping, training, and galvanizing of the current SFC, which led to the establishment of SFC.

Col. Wilson Bagonza, the commander of Special Forces Group Two (2SFG), said the newly promoted officers were recognized and elevated due to their great work in the army. He emphasized that promotion is a legal recognition of their efforts and encouraged them not to relent but to work more for the country’s prosperity.

Col. Bagonza commended the spouses of the army officers for always keeping their partners in shape, including handling their work etiquette, which relieves them of stress in hard times. Col. John Baraza Mango, the SFC Director Personnel and Administration, presented the promoted officers for decoration.

The Special Forces Command (SFC) is a specialized component of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) tasked with carrying out specialized missions or operations at a moment’s notice.

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