Lieutenant General Samuel Okiding, the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces and Inspector General of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), has been named a recipient of the prestigious Uganda Development Champions Award.
He will also be formally inducted into the 2025/2026 edition of the Uganda Development Champions Journal—an annual publication that recognizes transformative national leaders who have significantly contributed to Uganda’s growth and stability.
A seasoned military officer and decorated war hero, Lt. Gen. Okiding has built an exemplary career rooted in courage, strategy, and unwavering national service.
He formerly led the African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) as its Force Commander, a role in which he was instrumental in driving peace enforcement and counter-insurgency operations across the Horn of Africa.
Throughout his decades of service, Lt. Gen. Okiding has earned both domestic and international acclaim for his leadership and operational acumen.
His service portfolio includes critical roles in numerous military campaigns aimed at securing Uganda and its neighbors.
These include Operations Mwisho I and II against the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in South Sudan (1995–1998), Operation Safe Haven targeting Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (2000–2003), and the multinational Operation Lightning Thunder in DRC, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic (2010–2011).
His appointment as ATMIS Force Commander in May 2023 came after he had served as UPDF’s Deputy Commander of Land Forces up to November 2022.
Earlier, from 2015 to 2017, he commanded Uganda’s AMISOM contingent, further reinforcing his expertise in peacekeeping and regional military collaboration.
Born on March 9, 1962, in Kasilo, Serere District, Lt. Gen. Okiding joined the military in 1980 and became a commissioned officer in 1989.
Rising through the ranks, he served extensively in the UPDF Artillery Corps, eventually heading the Artillery Division from 2010 to 2021.
Alongside his military achievements, Lt. Gen. Okiding also brings a strong academic background to his leadership.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Berkley and Diplomas in Computer Science and Business Administration from the College of Professional Management in the United Kingdom.
Lt. Gen. Okiding’s induction will place him among a distinguished class of leaders in the 2025/2026 Uganda Development Champions Journal.
Fellow honorees include General Salim Saleh, Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, Treasury Secretary Ramathan Ggoobi, State House Comptroller Jane Barekye, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, General Gowa Kasiita, and the Auditor General of Uganda, among others.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the first recipient of the Uganda Development Champions Award, personally presided over the award’s inaugural ceremony.
The award, administered by Public Opinions, recognizes individuals and organizations advancing Uganda’s national development agenda and aligning with both the Uganda Vision 2040 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The UPDF, as a non-partisan, professional, and constitutionally governed institution, continues to serve as a cornerstone of national unity, peace, and development.
Its mission extends beyond safeguarding Uganda’s sovereignty to supporting civilian authorities, aiding in disaster response, and participating in development-oriented projects.
Public Opinions, the organization behind the award, plays a key role in public education, national development promotion, and the annual publication of the Uganda Development Champions Journal.
The group is currently inviting nominations of high-performing individuals and institutions to mark Uganda’s upcoming 63rd Independence Anniversary.
Congratulations to Lt. Gen. Samuel Okiding on this outstanding recognition of a lifetime of valor, leadership, and national service.
