Kampala, (UG):- Gen Yoweri Museveni, the President and Commander in Chief of Uganda’s armed forces has appointed Brigadier Gen Asaph Nyakikuru Mweteise as the new deputy commander of the Special Forces Command (SFC).
Brig Nyakikuru, who was among the UPDF officers promoted two months ago to his current rank takes over the mantle from Brigadier Gen Charity Bainababo who has been sent to the National Defence College (NDC) for further studies.
Brig Nyakikuru has been serving as the Commander of the Special Forces Commando Force and brings a wealth of experience in special operations.
He has been involved in significant commando operations in Somalia and South Sudan, the battle against the Allied Democratic Forces in western Uganda, and the fight against the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in Northern Uganda.
In Somalia, he played a key role in operations that saw the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) dislodge entrenched Al Shabaab militants from Mogadishu.
In 2021, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba saluted President Museveni for his vision in setting up One Commando battalion 15 years earlier.
“From a force of 250, it has grown to this mighty force you see today. It was created by radio message on 27 june 2006. In September you ordered me to camp with them in Baralege, re-train and create one commando battalion,” said Gen Muhoozi.
“More importantly it performed brilliantly against LRA, ADF in Bundigyo, in Mogadishu against Al Shabaab and also against so-called white army in rebels in South Sudan,” he said.
Brig Nyakikuru also commanded military operations in Kampala during the violent opposition protests that marred the 2021 general election campaigns, although the outcome of the protests attracted criticism from local and international human rights groups, accusing the army of killing innocent Ugandans.
Nyakikuru has also been overseeing Camp Rufu in the Kiruhura district, a military facility that specialises in sniper commandos and has recently boosted its manpower. This camp serves as the base for the One Command battalion and the Special Forces training centre.
Additionally, Brigadier Nyakikuru commanded military operations in Kampala during the violent opposition protests that disrupted the 2021 general election campaigns.
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