LIST: Gen Katumba, Otema among UPDF retiring Generals

The retiring group features 5 Majors, 16 Brigadiers, 28 Colonels, 42 Lieutenant Colonels, 183 Majors, and 254 Captains. The retirement ceremony is scheduled to take place in July 2026.

Kampala, Uganda: Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) has confirmed that a total of at least 531 officers and militants, including some of the country’s most prominent generals, are braced for retirement from the army in a sweeping transition that marks the exit of several Bush War-era military figures.

Among the notable retirees is the only serving four-star General, Edward Katumba Wamala, a former Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and current Minister of Works and Transport. Gen. Katumba, who joined the liberation struggle in 1980, has served in key national security and government positions for over four decades.

According to the official retirement list seen by this publication, the retiring group features 5 Majors, 16 Brigadiers, 28 Colonels, 42 Lieutenant Colonels, 183 Majors, and 254 Captains. The retirement ceremony is scheduled to take place in July 2026.

In line with UPDF retirement guidelines, Generals and Lieutenant Generals retire at age 65, Major Generals at 62, Brigadiers at 60, Colonels at 55, Lieutenant Colonels at 51, and Majors at 47.

UPDF and Ministry of Defence Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Felix Kulaigye said, “Retirement is part of the norm within UPDF. So, we wish our comrades the best as they retire.”

Profiles of Key Retirees:

Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala was born on November 19, 1956, in Bweeza, Kalangala District. He holds a BA in International Relations and Diplomacy from Nkumba University and an MSc in Strategic Leadership from the US Army War College.

Katumba has held numerous senior roles, including IGP, CDF, and Commander of Land Forces. He also has military training from institutions in Tanzania, Nigeria, the US, the Soviet Union, and North Korea.

Maj. Gen. Leopold Kyanda, born January 1, 1970, currently serves as the UPDF Joint Chief of Staff. He joined the army in the early 1990s, rising through the ranks in the Presidential Guard Brigade, Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence, and various top command roles.

He trained at India’s National Defence College and served as Military Attaché in Washington, D.C.

Lt. Gen. Charles Angina, born March 29, 1962, is Uganda’s Deputy Ambassador to Egypt. He joined the army in 1983 and has served in multiple high-level positions, including Deputy CDF, Operation Wealth Creation coordinator, and sector commander during operations in the DRC. He studied in China, the US, North Korea, and Tanzania.

The retirement of these veterans signals a generational shift within the UPDF, paving the way for a younger crop of commanders to take on leadership roles while honoring the legacy of Uganda’s most seasoned military officers.