{"id":14905,"date":"2025-07-17T09:46:01","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T09:46:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ugandaupdatenews.com\/?p=14905"},"modified":"2025-07-17T09:46:19","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T09:46:19","slug":"149-updf-officers-retire-as-leaders-call-for-wise-investment-and-continued-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/149-updf-officers-retire-as-leaders-call-for-wise-investment-and-continued-service\/","title":{"rendered":"149 UPDF Officers Retire As Leaders Call For Wise Investment And Continued Service"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Uganda Peoples\u2019 Defence Forces (UPDF) has formally retired 149 senior officers under Batch 15, with a strong appeal for them to invest their retirement packages wisely and continue serving as ambassadors of the force in civilian life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the official retirement ceremony held at the Joint Services Headquarters in Mbuya, Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Sam Okiding, delivered a heartfelt message encouraging sound decision-making. \u201cFrom here, all of you should think correctly and see where to invest your money,\u201d he urged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Citing Proverbs 4:23 \u2013 \u201cBe careful how you think. Your life is shaped by your thoughts\u201d \u2013 Lt Gen Okiding stressed the importance of mindset in shaping future outcomes. \u201cIf you think wrongly, expect wrong results,\u201d he cautioned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Representing the Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Lt Gen Okiding congratulated the officers for their distinguished service, describing the moment as historic. He recalled that retirement was once marked by fear and uncertainty. \u201cUniformed people today enjoy retirement, but in the past, it was often about being chased out,\u201d he said. \u201cNow we celebrate comrades going home alive, with a package, after serving Uganda with courage, integrity, sacrifice and commitment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He called on the retirees to view this milestone not as a conclusion, but as a new form of duty. \u201cYou have been 100 per cent in active service, and you will remain 100 per cent in retirement by serving in another capacity,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lt Gen Okiding, who also serves as the UPDF Inspector General, commended the retirees for their selfless service, noting that their sacrifices had preserved the nation. \u201cNo sacrifice is greater than the one you responded to. Put the well-being of your comrades first before yourselves,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He encouraged them to act as \u201clistening posts\u201d for the UPDF and to play a part in safeguarding the progress made during their years of active duty. Paying tribute to their spouses, he added, \u201cWe respect you, we are proud of you, and the nation is proud of you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expressing gratitude to the Commander-in-Chief, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Lt Gen Okiding credited his visionary leadership and encouraged the retirees to support Uganda\u2019s socio-economic transformation with their accumulated experience.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Major General James Kinalwa, Joint Staff \u2013 Human Resource Management, explained that the retirement is a deliberate part of the force\u2019s personnel renewal strategy. \u201cRetirement is an important milestone, not an end,\u201d he said. \u201cIt creates space for new adventures and for you to tell your story to future generations. In a professional army, it also makes room for younger, energetic personnel to take on the mantle of national defence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He urged the retirees to transition into civilian life with the same courage and resolve that marked their military careers, highlighting that the process is guided by the UPDF Act.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Maj Gen Felix Kulayigye, who served as Master of Ceremonies and is also the Director of Defence Public Information, encouraged the officers to keep inspiring others to serve Uganda with honour and dedication.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Speaking on behalf of the retirees, Colonel Godfrey Kalyowa expressed appreciation to President Museveni for his leadership. He described the day as a dignified milestone that closes one chapter and opens another. \u201cIn the past, retirement was feared, but today it is dignified. It is now a transition, not rejection. We return as ambassadors of discipline, integrity and prosperity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Col Kalyowa praised the current state of the UPDF, describing it as a well-regarded institution both nationally and regionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group of retirees includes 24 Colonels, 83 Lieutenant Colonels and 42 Majors. Each officer received a Certificate of Service in recognition of their contributions to national security and stability. Among the notable retirees were Col Abdu Nasser, Col Justus Besisira, Col Bernard Tumwesigire, Lt Col Jamada Kasongo, Lt Col Suleiman Kizito and Lt Col Khalid Nasur Kamya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ceremony was attended by Chief of Joint Staff Lt. Gen. Jack Bakasumba, senior UPDF officials, staff from the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MODVA), retiring officers and their families, along with other UPDF personnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Editor;msserwanga@gmail.com<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Uganda Peoples\u2019 Defence Forces (UPDF) has formally retired 149 senior officers under Batch 15, with a strong appeal for<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14906,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[65],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14905","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Retirees-move-out-from-the-MoDVA-hq-Mbuya-while-waving-as-a-sign-of-leaving-the-active-service-2-2560x1280-1.jpeg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":11801,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/lt-gen-okiding-hands-over-atmis-office-returns-to-uganda-as-deputy-cdf\/","url_meta":{"origin":14905,"position":0},"title":"Lt Gen Okiding Hands Over ATMIS Office, Returns To Uganda As Deputy CDF","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"April 2, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The outgoing Force Commander of the African Union Transition Mission (ATMIS) in Somalia, Lieutenant General Sam Okiding, has today handed over office as he sets to return to Uganda as the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces. 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