The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has appointed Brigadier Paul Muwonge as the new Commander of the UPDF Mountain Infantry Division, based in Fort Portal, western Uganda.
Brigadier Muwonge has been promoted from his previous role as Deputy Commander of the same division. He replaces Major General James Birungi, who took over the command in April this year.
Major General Birungi has now been posted to Bujumbura, Burundi, where he will serve as Uganda’s Military Attaché and Defence Advisor (DA). He takes over from Brigadier Simon Ochan, who has completed his tour of duty and will return to the Joint UPDF Services Headquarters for reassignment.
Before assuming command of the Mountain Division in April, Major General Birungi served as the UPDF Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security (CDIS). He had swapped positions with Major General Richard Otto, who previously commanded the Mountain Infantry Division.
In his new role, Brigadier Muwonge will also oversee Operation Shujaa, a joint UPDF–FARDC military campaign aimed at neutralising the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) insurgents entrenched in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
