JINJA, Uganda — In a strategic move to bolster the Uganda People’s Defence Forces’ (UPDF) elite training institutions, Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Muhoozi Kainerugaba has announced new leadership appointments at the apex of the country’s military education system.
Brigadier General Alex Opolot Olupot has been named the new Commandant of the National Defence College – Uganda (NDC-U), based in Jinja. A seasoned officer, Brig Gen Olupot previously served as the Joint Staff for Training and Doctrine, a key post shaping the professional standards of the force. He now steps into the shoes of Major General Francis Okello, the founding Commandant of NDC-U, who is set to retire later this year after a trailblazing military career.
Established in 2022, the NDC-U serves as the pinnacle of strategic military education in Uganda, grooming senior officers in defense strategy, national security, and leadership. Brig Gen Olupot’s appointment is expected to inject fresh momentum into the college’s mission of producing globally competitive military thinkers.
Simultaneously, Brigadier General Micheal Kabango, formerly the Chief of Staff Land Forces, has been appointed Commandant of the Senior Command and Staff College (SCSC), also located in Jinja. He takes over from Major General George Igumba, another veteran officer heading for retirement after an illustrious service record.
Maj Gens Okello and Igumba leave behind legacies marked by over 40 years of unwavering dedication, having scaled every rung of the military education ladder and commanded at various levels. Their retirements mark the end of an era—both men embody the resilience, intellect, and discipline the UPDF seeks to instill in future generations.
In a statement, the UPDF extended its heartfelt appreciation to the outgoing generals, saluting their “distinguished military service and stellar example,” while expressing confidence in the incoming commandants. “Brigadier Generals Alex Opolot Olupot and Micheal Kabango have proven themselves as capable, visionary leaders. Their appointments are a vote of confidence in their ability to elevate UPDF’s strategic training institutions to greater heights,” the release noted.
These changes underscore a deliberate and steady transition within Uganda’s military leadership—a balance between honouring veteran service and empowering the next generation of commanders to steer the force into a future of complex security dynamics.
As the UPDF charts its course through an evolving regional and global security landscape, these appointments reflect not just continuity, but a bold step toward innovation in leadership development.
