Uganda’s military intelligence command has a new face—battlefield strategist Maj. Gen. Richard Otto. In a decisive move, Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has appointed Otto as the new Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security (CDIS), signaling a sharpened focus on intelligence dominance and regional threat neutralization.
Otto steps into one of the most sensitive and powerful roles in the UPDF, taking the helm of Uganda’s military eyes and ears. With deep operational experience and a reputation for no-nonsense leadership, his elevation comes at a time when intelligence warfare is key to countering insurgencies, espionage, and cross-border threats.
Outgoing CDIS Maj. Gen. James Birungi isn’t stepping down quietly—he’s headed to command the Mountain Infantry Division and lead UPDF’s Operation Shujaa in eastern DRC, where intelligence feeds directly into action against ADF terror cells.
This is more than a reshuffle—it’s a recalibration of Uganda’s intelligence architecture. The message is clear: the UPDF is doubling down on information supremacy.
