Jinja, Uganda – The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba has appointed new commandants for the National Defence College – Uganda (NDC-U), the Senior Command and Staff College (SCSC) in Jinja.
The appointments announced by Colonel Chris Magezi, Acting Director of Defence Public Information marks a pivotal moment for Uganda’s defense education sector reflecting a blend of strategic continuity and generational transition.
Appointed as the new Commandant of the National Defence College Uganda (NDC-U), Brigadier General Alex Opolot Olupot assumes leadership at the country’s most advanced military strategic training institution.
He replaces Major General Francis Okello, who is set to retire later this year after serving as the founding Commandant since the college’s inception in 2022.
Prior to his appointment, Brig. Gen. Olupot served as Joint Staff Training and Doctrine, a role that deeply immersed him in the backbone of UPDF’s professional development programs.
“With Brig. Gen. Olupot’s solid background in training and doctrine, the NDC-U is poised to evolve into a regional hub for strategic military thought and leadership development.”
In a parallel move, Brigadier General Micheal Kabango, formerly Chief of Staff Land Forces has been appointed the new Commandant of the Senior Command and Staff College (SCSC) Kimaka.
He takes over from Major General George Igumba also due for retirement later this year after a storied career in defense leadership.
SCSC Kimaka is the UPDF’s flagship institution for preparing senior officers for high-level command and staff responsibilities.
Brig. Gen. Kabango’s appointment signals a clear emphasis on continuing excellence in the grooming of Uganda’s future generals.
Both Maj. Gen. Francis Okello and Maj. Gen. George Igumba are leaving behind decades-long military legacies that helped shape the modern UPDF.
With over four decades of dedicated service, these generals have held various high-level command and strategic positions and are credited with establishing Uganda’s contemporary military education architecture.
“They are a stellar example to upcoming officers for their example, resilience, and dedication,” said Col. Magezi.
Their retirement marks the end of an era and the rise of a new generation of leaders tasked with carrying the torch forward under increasingly complex security dynamics in the region.
This move comes at a time when the UPDF is recalibrating its strategic posture to face modern security challenges including terrorism, cyber threats and regional instability.
The elevation of seasoned Brigadiers with operational and instructional expertise hints at a renewed emphasis on intellectual military leadership, doctrine-driven operations and continental military partnerships.
Both colleges are based in Jinja, cementing the city’s role as Uganda’s military academic capital. NDC-U, in particular has begun attracting attention from regional allies with several East African nations expressing interest in sending officers for advanced training.
Under the new commandants, expectations are high. Insiders anticipate a restored curriculum emphasizing regional peacekeeping strategies, geopolitical analysis, non-conventional warfare and joint inter-agency collaboration.
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