Gen. Museveni Restructures UPDF, Introduces New Army Ranks

By Ronald Nahabwe

Kampala: The Commander in chief of armed forces Gen. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has approved new Uganda People Defence forces (UPDF) ranks in commitment to defining identity, outlook, and standardization of a professional army under East Africa Community Armed Forces Protocols, to match with other partner states.

This new directive came after UPDF high command and Defence Council
welcomed the conclusion of the process for the standardization of the dress code as a step forward in modernization and professionalization of the army.

The new army ranks directive was issued by the Minister for Defence and Veterans Affairs Adolf Mwesige following the UPDF Act of 1995 and 2005.

While speaking to Spy Uganda at his offices in Mbuya, UPDF spokesperson Brig. Richard Karemire confirmed the development and said it will be a vital tool in identifying the different ranks in the forces while enforcing the command and control which bring UPDF closer in harmony with other EAC armed forces and partner states.
“All East African Community partner state forces will put on rank pips and berets will be part of their uniform. The difference will be on the flag logos and the army uniforms. This will help to solve the problems of where senior commanders will salute junior officers like the way it has been happening during East Africa inter forces games, meetings, seminars, intelligence gathering and sharing because ranks are going to be streamlined perfectly,” Karemire said.

He added that “This process will come at a cost because UPDF will have to buy new pips and berets to match other countries like
Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania who are already implementing the changes.

Karemire explained in the coming two years, all old UPDF decoration ranks will be phased out and new ones will be adopted.

This development came after President Museveni saw the confusion in armed forces around East Africa and raised the matter in
the East Africa Security Council where other member states welcomed it.

According to the new army rank designs;
GENERAL pips will have four diamond stars arranged linearly, crossed with a General’s sword and baton, the word Uganda inscribed in capital letters and the court of arms inscribed with oak leaves.

A LIEUTENANT GENERAL pip will have a three-star General pips will have three diamond stars arranged linearly crossed General’s sword and baton, the word Uganda inscribed in capital letters and the court of arms inscribed with oak leaves.

A MAJOR GENERAL pip will have two-star General pips will have two diamond stars
arranged linearly, crossed General’s sword and baton, the word Uganda
inscribed in capital letters and the court of arms inscribed with oak
leaves.

A BRIGADIER GENERAL a one star General pip will have one-star diamond arranged linearly, crossed General’s sword and baton, the word Uganda inscribed in capital letters and court of arms inscribed with oak
leaves.

A COLONEL will have a court of arms surrounded by oak leaves, two
diamond stars just below it, the word Uganda inscribed in the capital
letters.

LIEUTENANT COLONEL. Will have a court of arms surrounded by oak leaves, a diamond star just below it, the word Uganda inscribed in the
capital letters.

A MAJOR will have an embroidered court of arms near the word Uganda
inscribed in the capital letters.

A CAPTAIN will have 3 linear diamond stars and the word Uganda inscribed in the capital letters.

A LIEUTENANT will have 2 linear diamond stars and the word Uganda
inscribed in the capital letters.

A SECOND LIEUTENANT will have 1 linear diamond star and the word
Uganda inscribed in capital letters.

The ranks for other lower ranks especially infantry will have black pips in color superimposed on army green background.