KAMPALA — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), has promoted 301 General, Senior and Junior Officers in a major reshuffle aimed at strengthening leadership across the military.
The promotions were announced alongside the confirmation of 83 officers who had been serving in acting capacities, with the officers now attaining substantive ranks.
In addition, the probationary ranks of 89 Second Lieutenants have been confirmed, elevating them to the rank of Lieutenant.
The latest promotions have elevated several senior officers to the rank of Major General, including Ag Major General Joseph Musoke Ssemwanga, who has been confirmed as Major General.
Others promoted from Brigadier General to Major General include Brig Gen Godwin Karugaba, Brig Gen Chris Musinguzi Bagonza, Brig Gen Michael Nyarwa, Brig Gen Richard Karemire, and Brig Gen David Robert Gonyi.
One of the most recognizable figures in the promotions is Karemire, now a Major General.
Brig. Gen. Richard Karemire is a senior officer of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) with decades of military service. Born in Mbarara District, he joined the National Resistance Army (NRA) in 1985, a year before it captured power and was later transformed into the UPDF. He holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies and has undergone military training in Uganda, Cuba, Libya, Zimbabwe, Sweden, Tanzania, the United States and Zambia.
Karemire built much of his career in military intelligence. He served as Deputy Liaison Officer with the United Nations mission in Rwanda, headed External Intelligence and later served as Director of Counter Intelligence at the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI). He also held assignments at Uganda’s embassy in Sudan and with the United States Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa in Djibouti, gaining extensive experience in intelligence, diplomacy and regional security cooperation.
In January 2017, President Yoweri Museveni appointed Karemire as UPDF spokesperson, succeeding Brig. Gen. Paddy Ankunda. During his three-year tenure, he became the public face of the military, regularly briefing the media on security operations, peacekeeping missions, defence policy and national security matters. His official statements were widely reported by leading Ugandan media, including ChimpReports, New Vision and Daily Monitor.
In August 2020, Karemire was redeployed as Uganda’s Defence Liaison Officer to the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat in Arusha, Tanzania, where he worked to strengthen defence and security cooperation among EAC partner states. He was later recalled to Uganda and appointed Head of Joint Staff Formal Education, Sports and Culture (JS FESC), a position responsible for overseeing education, sports and cultural programmes within the UPDF.
In June 2026, Brig. Gen. Karemire was elected chairman of UPDF Football Club during the club’s Annual General Meeting, succeeding Lt. Col. Andrew Kulu. Upon assuming office, he pledged to strengthen the club’s governance, mobilise additional resources and improve the competitiveness of the men’s, women’s and youth teams.
Throughout his career, Karemire has earned recognition as one of the UPDF’s most experienced officers in intelligence, strategic communications and defence diplomacy. His military decorations include the Luweero Triangle Medal, the United States Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Jubilee Independence Medal and the United Nations Peace Medal.
The promotions affect officers across different levels of command within the UPDF and are intended to enhance continuity, strengthen institutional leadership and support the army’s constitutional responsibility of defending Uganda’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs and the UPDF congratulated all the officers upon their elevation.
“Congratulations to all officers upon their elevation,” said Acting Defence Spokesperson Col Chris Magezi in a statement.
