By Tolit Ivan
Gen. Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, the former Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) on Thursday handed over office to Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the new CDF.
Gen. Muhoozi replaces Gen. Mbadi who is now a minister of state for Trade in the Ministry of Trade and Cooperatives.
The closed door handover ceremony took place at the UPDF Fourth Division Infantry Headquarters in Gulu City.
According to sources, the handover ceremony was presided over by Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho Alias Salim Saleh, the Chief Coordinator of the Operation Wealth Creation and Special Presidential Advisors on Defence and Security.
Brigadier General Felix Kulaigye, the UPDF Spokesperson, confirmed the development.
Gen. Mbadi was appointed CDF in June, 2021. He had served in different positions in the UPDF, including as aide de camp to the president, Fourth Division commander, Joint Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Defence Forces.
Meanwhile Muhoozi Kainerugaba, (born 24 April 1974), joined the army in 1999 at the rank of officer cadet and graduated in 2000 from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, the British Army’s officer training school.
In September 2011 Muhoozi was promoted to Colonel and in August 2012 he was promoted to Brig. General and appointed Commander Special Forces Command.
In 2017 Muhoozi was appointed Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Duties, a position he held until December 2020.
He served as commander of the Special Forces Command (SFC) from 2008 to 2017, and again from December 2020 to 2021.
In February 2019, President Yoweri Museveni, promoted him to the rank of lieutenant-general, the second-highest rank in the UPDF army after general.
On 4 October, Museveni promoted him to the rank of general, making him one of the youngest four-star generals in the world.
In June 2021, Muhoozi was appointed Commander of the UPDF Land Forces until 4 October 2022, when he was removed.
And last week, President Museveni, the Commander in Chief (CIC) appointed Muhoozi as the Chief of Defence Forces.
