Lieutenant General Kayanja Muhanga (born 1965) is a Ugandan army officer, who currently serves as Commander of Land Forces in UPDF . He was appointed to that position in October 2022 by the President of Uganda and Commander in chief of the UPDF, Yoweri Museveni. He previously served as commander of the Uganda People's Defence Force contingent in Eastern DRC under Operation Shujaa. He was appointed to that position in January 2021 by Yoweri Museveni, the Commander in Chief of the UPDF and the President of Uganda.[1] Prior to that, Maj. General Muhanga served as the commandant of the military police within the UPDF.[2]
Lieutenant General Kayanja Muhanga | |
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 | |
| Born | 1965 (age 58–59) |
| Nationality | Ugandan |
| Citizenship | Uganda |
| Occupation | Military Officer |
| Years active | 1985 - present |
| Known for | Military Matters |
| Relatives | Andrew Mwenda, Margaret Muhanga, Baguma Muhanga |
History
editKayanja Muhanga was born in Fort Portal, Kabarole District, Western Uganda, circa 1964.[3] He is an older brother to journalist, Andrew Mwenda, the publisher and editor of The Independent (Uganda), newsmagazine. He also has a sister, Margaret Muhanga, a staffer in the Office of the President of Uganda. His father is Mzee Phillip Muhanga of Fort Portal.[4]
Formal education
editHe attended Duhaga Secondary School in Hoima district and later Mpanga Day School, in Fort Portal. In 1985, while still in S5, he joined Museveni's National Resistance Army (NRA).
Military education
editHe attended the Cadet Officers Course at the Uganda Military Academy in 1988. At that time, the school was located at Quaddafi Barracks in Jinja, Eastern Uganda, before it was relocated to Kabamba, in Mubende District.
Military career
editHe joined the NRA at the rank of Private, serving in that position until NRA captured power in 1986. He served in the military police unit based in Kasese. He served in the Presidential Protection Unit at the rank of private from 1986 until 1988. Following the Junior Cadet Officer Course, he served in the office of the Chief of Combat Operations, at the rank of second lieutenant. He was transferred to the Directorate of Military Intelligence in 1990, serving there until 1993. From 1993 until 1997, he served as the Intelligence Officer, attached to the UPDF barracks in Mubende. He was assigned to the Joint Anti-Terrorism Taskforce, at the rank of Captain. He was promoted through Major, Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel and was posted to Mogadishu, Somalia, as part of the UPDF contingent to AMISOM. While there, he commanded Uganda’s "Battle Group Eight" and concurrently served as the deputy commander for the Ugandan contingent in Somalia.[5]
After his tour of duty he served as the Chief of the Military Police in the UPDF, until January 2014.[6] In January 2014, Colonel Kayanja Muhanga was appointed Commander of the UPDF Operations in South Sudan.[7] In February 2014, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Colonel Kayanja Promoted to Rank of Brigadier". The Independent (Uganda). 10 February 2014. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- ^ Kaija, Wilson Akiiki (12 March 2012). "Museveni Makes Minor Changes In UPDF". Uganda Radio Network. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- ^ Giles (5 May 2014). "Promoted Army Chiefs Decorated". kampala: Chimpreports.com. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ Kato, Joshua (15 August 2005). "Who Andrew Mwenda?". New Vision. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- ^ Mwenda, Andrew (11 August 2012). "Taking The War Beyond Mogadishu". The Independent (Uganda). Archived from the original on 27 May 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- ^ Baguma, Raymond (14 August 2013). "US Army Trains Uganda Military Police". New Vision. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- ^ Kasasira, Risdel (13 January 2014). "Museveni Appoints New Head of Operations In South Sudan". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- ^ Kasasira, Risdel (10 February 2014). "ISO Chief Balya, Colonel Kayanja Promoted to Rank of Brigadier". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 26 May 2014.