Former Coordinator of intelligence Organs, Gen David Sejusa has criticized the promotion of Special Forces Commander, Muhoozi Kainerugaba to the rank of Major General.
In a military radio communication to all army units on May 16, Gen Katumba Wamala announced that President Yoweri Museveni, the Commander-In-Chief of the UPDF, had promoted Maj Gen Joram Mugume to the new rank of Lt Gen and Brig Muhoozi to Maj Gen Lt Gen Mugume also served as Deputy Army Commander from 1998 to 2001.
Others promoted included the Deputy Commander of the Air Force, Col Charles Lutaaya to Brigadier, the Chief of Staff Air Force Col James Birungi to Brigadier and the Deputy Commander of the Special Forces, Col Muzeyi Sabiiti to Brigadier.
However, Sejusa has revealed that it was “unfair” for Museveni to promote younger officers, leaving the NRA war heroes at lower ranks
“Many veterans who participated in the Liberation struggle of NRA have been denied chance to rise to top positions in the army despite of their committed service they are rendering to this country,” said Sejusa who was responding to a journalist’s question on Muhoozi’s elevation.
A visibly angry Sejusa made the remarks on Saturday after the High Court declared he was no longer a serving soldier with the UPDF.
“We have Brig Wasswa Kalege who is in his 60s and worked hard in the liberation struggle especially in Bukomero, Kiboga district where he helped president Museveni to cross river Nakaziba which had been destroyed by Tanzanian fighters,” recalled Sejusa, an NRA bush war hero.
“Surprisingly, Brig Wasswa is still at the rank of Brigadier yet we are hearing a number of promotions in the army where people have been promoted to higher ranks like Lt General, Major General among others.”
Defence officials told ChimpReports on Sunday that Sejusa’s remarks were “misplaced” and intended to “sow seeds of anarchy by dividing the army.”
According to the office of army spokesperson, 692 officers were last week promoted throughout the various UPDF units and formations around the country and those serving with foreign missions in Somalia and the Central African Republic (CAR).
Sejusa was in 2013 placed under investigation for reportedly planning a coup.
It was said Sejusa moved across the country mobilising war veterans and handing them cash as part of a wider plan to topple president Museveni.
According to documents at the Court Martial, Sejusa recruited soldiers in UPDF and attempted to infiltrate the Special Forces Command; a move that led to arrest of several combatants.
Background
It’s at that moment that the maverick general learned that he had been busted.
In May 2013, Sejusa wrote a dossier suggesting that President Museveni was grooming his son to take over the presidency.
He later fled to self imposed exile in the UK in the immediate aftermath before returning back to the country in December of 2014.
Addressing the media on the sidelines of the decoration ceremony early this week, Maj Gen Muhoozi said his promotion was based on merit.
“There is a process. There is a commissions board that looks at each case by case and decides. So you have never heard of a message where I promote myself. It is always by the promotions board. That is the process of the military,” Maj Gen Muhoozi observed.
He further dismissed the widely discussed topic of the “Muhoozi Project” as “non-existent” and a “red herring.”
“I don’t have the ambition to be president. I’m very happy in the military and that’s where I intend to stay for some time. If one wanted to become president, there are well laid out procedures in our constitution for every Ugandan, including me,” explained Maj. Gen. Muhoozi.
Meanwhile, Sejusa advised government officials to treat judiciary with respect, adding that this is the only paradise on earth where they can seek justice once they are out of power.
“People in power should destroy courts at their own cost since it’s the only paradise on this earth.”