Who Is Newly Appointed CDF Lt Gen Wilson Mbadi And His Deputy, Lt Gen Peter Elwelu

Newly Appointed CDF,Deputy

The Uganda People’s defense forces -UPDF has again received a massive shake-up with new appointments courtesy of the commander in chief General Yoweri Museveni.

According to the latest appointments by Gen Museveni Lt Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi takes charge now as the new Chief of Defence Forces.

Mbadi replaces Gen David Muhoozi who was appointed as State Minister for Internal Affairs.

Lt Gen Mbadi is a senior military officer in the (UPDF) who has been serving the Deputy Chief of the Defense Forces -CDF and Inspector General of the UPDF.

He was appointed to that position in January 2017, replacing Lieutenant Gen Charles Angina, who became Deputy Commander of Operation Wealth Creation.

From May 2013 until January 2017, he served as the Joint Chief of Staff of the UPDF, where he was replaced by Major General Joseph Musanyufu.

Mbadi joined the Uganda military in 1986. In 1991, he was commissioned, following the completion of a one-year Officer Cadet course at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, in the United Kingdom.

In 1992, he attended the Platoon Commander’s Course at the Uganda School of Infantry, at that time located in Jinja.

In 1994, he attended the,Uganda Junior Staff college also at Jinja.

In 1998, Mbadi attended the Mobile International Defence Management Course, in Lusaka, Zambia.

Also in 1998, he attended the Company Command Course in Tanzania.

In 2001, he attended the Combat Group Command Course at Armored Corps Center and School, in Ahmadnagar, India, doing very well. In 2004, he attended the Senior Command and Staff Course at (NDCK).

Also in 2004, Wilson Mbadi completed the Peace Support Operations Course (PSTC) at Karen, Kenya.

Newly Appointed CDF,Deputy

In 2005, he successfully completed a Diploma course in Strategic Studies at the University of Nairobi. In 2007, he graduated with a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, United States of America.

From 1987 until 1989, he served as a Junior Non commissioned Instructor at Kaweweta and Kabamba Recruit Training Schools.

In 1991, he was the Officer in charge of Career Planning. He then served as the Director of Supplies in 1997/8 and Armoured Brigade Logistics Officer and Brigade Administrative Officer in 1999 and 2000 respectively.

In 2001, he served as the Directing Staff, at the Uganda Junior Staff College in Jinja before becoming 503 Infantry Brigade Operations and Training officer in 2001/2002.

Newly Appointed CDF,Deputy

Between 2002 and 2003, he served as the Armoured Brigade Operations and Training Officer before commanding the Armoured Brigade, in an acting capacity. In 2005, the took full command of the 507 Brigade before becoming the Principal Air Staff Officer (Pers and Admin) at Uganda Peoples Defence Air Force HQs in 2006.

In 2007, he became Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the President of Uganda, serving in that capacity until December 2012 when he was appointed Commander of the 4th Infantry Division of UPDF, based in Gulu. In May 2013, he was appointed Joint Chief of Staff of the UPDF.

Mbadi will be deputized by Lt Gen Peter Elwelu appointed the new Deputy CDF.

Peter Elwelu is a Lieutenant General in the (UPDF).

Since 9 January 2017, he has served as the commander of land forces, which is the fourth-highest position in the UPDF hierarchy.

From June 2013 until January 2017, he was the commander of the UPDF 2nd division, based in Mbarara, the largest town in Uganda’s Western Region.

 Elwelu is most known for the Kasese massacre in which according to Human Rights Watch 153 people, including children, were killed. “They deserved to die,” he told the Observer in May 2021.

The latest changes have also Maj Gen Leopold Kyanda who has been the Chief of Staff Land Forces has now been appointed the Joint Chief of Staff to replace Lieutenant General Joseph Musanyufu who has been sent to civil service for redeployment.

The changes by the commander in chief have also seen Brig. Peter Chandia appointed the new Special Forces Commander, Maj Gen Sam Kavuma appointed as the deputy coordinator of the Operation Wealth Creation whereas Maj Gen Sam Okiding is the new Deputy Commander of Land Forces .

Pamela Achom