On Tuesday evening, the Commander in Chief (CiC) Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni made three changes in the army.
Museveni promoted Lt Col Nathan Nabimanya to Col and appointed him Commander 2SFG.
Col Charity Bainabaabo was elevated to Brig and sent to SFC as deputy commander.
In the same vein, Col David Mugisha was promoted to one star general and deployed as deputy commander 3rd Division in Moroto district.
Mugisha’s appointment takes immediate effect considering the crisis that has engulfed Karamoja region.
The little known Mugisha, has been serving in SFC, the elite unit of the army charged with President Museveni’s security and the country’s strategic installations.
Mugisha replaced Brig Erias Okolong whose new assignment remains unknown.
But to the deputy army spokesperson Lt Col Ronald Kakurungu, transfers are a normal practice in the army.
“He is not the first neither the last to be removed from his position,” Kakurungu when contacted.
Bickering
But a highly placed source in the army told TrumpetNews that Okolong’s fate was sealed following the recent visit by Commander Land Force (CLF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba in Karamoja region.
Muhoozi interacted with several officers of the 3rd infantry Division led by Brig. Joseph Balikuddembe.
Muhoozi gathered that Brig. Balikuddembe has made relentless efforts to the warriors to either voluntarily disarm or be forcefully disarmed.
“He has been involved in meetings and personally reaching out to Karamojong elders to talk to the locals to cease fire,” said a source.
However, there were no signs of retreating, instead the warriors would attack and kill UPDF soldiers.
Another source said that Muhoozi was briefed that Brig Okolong who hails from Teso had developed bad blood and was working to fail his commander Balikuddembe.
“We was even targeting his job,” said a source.
And as a deputy commander, Okolong had his following in the division.
“Therefore it was very hard for the top commander to issue orders to all the soldiers because of insubordination. And this had a huge impact in managing the crisis,” said a source.
All this information which Gen Muhoozi obtained, briefed the Commander in Chief who has since taken a decision for the good of the region.
“Just watch and see how there will be sanity with the deployment of new deputy commander,” a source added.
Lt Col Kakurungu dismissed this information as false, “you can’t start saying wrong things about our senior commanders. Where have you obtained the information from? Was there an investigation?” he questioned.
Brig Felix Kulayige when contacted said he was busy engaging visitors in his office.
