The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) has elected 10 senior officers to represent the army in the 12th Parliament (2026–2031).
The officers were chosen on Wednesday by the Defence Forces Council electoral college during elections held at the Land Forces Headquarters in Bombo, Luweero District. The process was presided over by President Yoweri Museveni, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF, alongside the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
According to the UPDF, the elections brought in six new faces, while four incumbent representatives retained their seats.
Who makes up the Defence Forces Council?
UPDF spokesperson Col Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information, explained that the Defence Forces Council is made up of senior military leaders. These include members of the UPDF High Command, senior officers who served in the army as of 26 January 1986, chiefs and directors of services, commandants of training institutions, brigade and battalion commanders, the Defence Forces Sergeant Major, and regional reserve force commanders.
New faces elected
The newly elected representatives include Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Sam Okiding, who leads the team of 10 officers heading to Parliament.
Other new representatives are Maj Gen James Kinalwa from Joint Staff Human Resource Management, Brig Joseph Ssemwanga, Brig David Gonyi, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Col Sylvia Meeme, who serves as Brigade Operations and Training Officer for the Military Police, and Col Night Ikiriza, a former aide to President Museveni.
Returning representatives
Among the officers who retained their parliamentary seats are Lt Gen James Mugira, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), the UPDF’s commercial arm, and Lt Gen Sam Kavuma, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Wazalendo SACCO.
They are joined by Maj Gen Henry Matsiko, the UPDF’s Chief Political Commissar, and Col Victor Nekesa.
