By Spy Uganda
Brigadier General Asaph Mweteise Nyakikuru has taken over the leadership of Uganda’s elite Special Forces Command (SFC), bringing extensive experience from major military operations in Uganda and the region to one of the country’s most strategic security positions.
Nyakikuru, who has served as SFC Deputy Commander since 2024, has been appointed Acting Commander of the force by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
As part of the changes, Nyakikuru has also been elevated to the acting rank of Major General, with both the appointment and promotion taking immediate effect.
He succeeds Major General David Mugisha, who is expected to leave the country in the coming months to undertake a course at the National Defence College abroad.
The appointment marks a significant step in the career of an officer who has spent years commanding specialised forces in some of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces’ (UPDF) most demanding operations.
From Commando Commander To SFC Chief
Before becoming SFC Deputy Commander, Nyakikuru headed the SFC Commando Force, giving him direct experience in leading highly specialised military units.
His career has included deployments in several theatres of operation, both within Uganda and in neighbouring countries.
During Uganda’s peacekeeping mission in Somalia, Nyakikuru participated in operations against Al-Shabaab militants, including campaigns that contributed to the recovery of strategic positions in Mogadishu.
He also played a command role in South Sudan during the 2013 conflict, when UPDF forces intervened in support of President Salva Kiir’s government following fighting involving forces loyal to then Vice President Riek Machar.
At home, Nyakikuru has been involved in UPDF operations against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in western Uganda as well as earlier military campaigns against the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in northern Uganda.
His operational experience also extends to the deployment of Special Forces units during opposition protests in Kampala in 2021.
That same year, the first Commando Battalion, which was under his command, was elevated to a full brigade by President Yoweri Museveni.
Beyond operational deployments, Nyakikuru has also been involved in specialised military training.
He has overseen Camp Rufu in Kiruhura District, a facility associated with the training of sniper commandos and specialised SFC personnel.
The facility hosts the One Commando Battalion and the Special Forces training centre, making it an important component of Uganda’s specialised military training infrastructure.
His appointment therefore places an officer with experience in both field operations and specialised training at the helm of the SFC.
The leadership change comes as Major General Mugisha prepares for further professional military training at the National Defence College.
Nyakikuru’s elevation to acting commander ensures continuity within the SFC while Mugisha undertakes the course.
The SFC is one of the UPDF’s specialised formations and is tasked with a range of high-level security responsibilities, including the protection of the President, the First Family and other strategic installations.
With Nyakikuru having already served as the force’s deputy commander for two years, his appointment provides continuity while placing an experienced field commander in charge of the elite formation.
His immediate challenge will be to build on the work undertaken under Mugisha while maintaining the operational readiness and specialised capabilities of the SFC.
The appointment also highlights Nyakikuru’s steady rise through Uganda’s specialised forces from commanding commando units and major operations to now taking temporary charge of the country’s elite military formation.
