[Ugnet] In Museveni's Uganda, the politics of military conquest and fighting wars continue unabatted

[Matek Opoko]

Museveni promotes more army officers
By Grace Matsiko
Jan 9, 2005

KAMPALA � President Museveni has promoted six UPDF officers to new ranks and higher positions of command.  (Those who live by the sword, die by the sword..so says  the Lord...the military culture which thus promotes, is the very military culture which will take you out) ) The President, who is the commander-in-chief of the armed offices, elevated Lt. Col. Sam Kavuma from a battalion to a brigade commander although he kept the officer at the same rank. Kavuma, the President's former aide de camp, will command the 409 Brigade in Arua, military sources said on Friday. As commander of the 51 Battalion in Yumbe, Kavuma was part of the joint security force that captured suspected People's Redemption Army rebels late last year in West Nile region and recovered a stock of arms from them. Military sources also said that Lt. Col. Wilson Mbadi was elevated to command the 507 Alpine Brigade based in the Rwenzori Mountains. Mbadi returned from a commanders' course in Kenya recently. He had previously served with the Armoured Brigade in Masaka. He also keeps his rank. Museveni, however, promoted Maj. Francis Takirwa to the rank of lieutenant colonel and made him the 503 Brigade commander in Kitgum. Takirwa once served with the Presidential Guard Brigade, and Operation Iron Fist, a codename for the military offensive against the Lord's Resistance Army rebels in northern Uganda and southern Sudan. The President also promoted the 17 Battalion Commander, Capt. Roger Jingo, to major. Captains Abubakar Achaga, the 59 Battalion commander; and John Kizza, the 53 Battalion commander, also moved up to the rank of major. "They have been promoted because they are exemplary in battle or for long service as battalion commanders," Army and Defence Spokesman Shaban Bantariza said. He could not say whether the promotions were related to the recent military successes against the LRA and PRA rebel groups. "Whether they were promoted for fighting PRA or LRA that is your interpretation and don't interpret promotions," Maj. Bantariza said. He said some of the captains had effectively served as battalion commanders, which was above their rank. He said a battalion commander should be at the rank of major and above. Last month, Museveni confirmed and promoted more than 1,500 soldiers, a vast majority of them becoming lieutenants.

� 2005 The Monitor Publications.

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