By Ivan Okuda
In Summary
Maj Gen Geoffrey Baraba Muheesi last night flew
to Somalia a decorated and contented man having been promoted from
Brigadier and appointed deputy forces commander in-charge of operations
for the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom).
He was decorated yesterday by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Edward Katumba Wamala, at the army headquarters in Mbuya.
According to sources at Uganda People’s Defence
Forces, the former defence adviser to India, “passed through a thorough
screening process, he emerged the best out of three and was interviewed
both in Uganda and by Amisom.”
Ready for the task
A visibly excited Gen Muheesi, accompanied by his wife, said: “This is a great day for me. It is a great feeling. All along I have given my best now the army is rewarding me and I pledge not to let it down.”
A visibly excited Gen Muheesi, accompanied by his wife, said: “This is a great day for me. It is a great feeling. All along I have given my best now the army is rewarding me and I pledge not to let it down.”
Gen Muheesi, who brings on board more than 30
years of experience in the army, takes a front line role in Amisom at a
time when corruption scandals, including theft of soldiers’ food and
sale of ammunition by top commanders under trial now, are wrecking the
mission. Even more, the force is now bigger and more diverse with troops
from Djibouti, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Kenya and police officers from
Nigeria on board albeit with relative stability returning.
However, the former Presidential Guard Brigade
commander sounded optimistic: “I will fight every battle to restore the
dignity of the UPDF in Somalia, mistakes have been made but we shall
correct them.”
He added: “ I know the task ahead is not easy but
my track record is clear and I am not associated with mistakes. I will
leave Somalia better than I found it.”
Gen Katumba Wamala shared tips with the general, saying, “his hard work, good discipline will give us a good name.”
He cautioned Muheesi to consolidate the
achievements of the peace keeping mission, “this is a mission we highly
value as a country and have built from scratch, its operations now
squarely lie on your laps,” he said, adding, “you are going to wear
three hats; one of a diplomat, a soldier and another of a politician to
keep the mission in focus.”
Meanwhile, Maj Gen Andrew Guti who has been the
Forces commander of the peace-keeping mission, has been recalled and
will hand over to a Burundian General, whom Muheesi will deputise
effective January 1. The Amisom stewardship is rotational.
Muheesi at glance
Born: Born in 1958 and joined army in 1981.
Education: National War College, USA (2005-2006)
National Defence College, Kenya (2000-2001)
Past Staff and Command Course, Nigeria (1991-1992)
Junior Staff and Command Course, Uganda (1988-1988)
Defence Resource Management Course, USA
Incident Management course USA.
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