Abbas Byakagaba,the new Police boss

 President Kaguta Museveni has appointed the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Abbas Byakagaba, who retired recently, as the Inspector General of Uganda Police

He will be deputized by Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) James Ochaya, replacing Maj Gen Geoffrey Katsigazi

Byakagaba previously served as Director in Charge of Human Resources and Director of counter-terrorism police.

This is a surprise but seen as a bold move, President Yoweri Museveni has recalled all military officers from the police force, effective immediately. The decision, announced on Friday, sees the departure of senior UPDF officers who had been serving as directors in the police.

Except for two officers – Tom Magambo, Director of Criminal Investigations, and Christopher Damulira, Director of Crime Intelligence – all other military officers have been recalled to the UPDF headquarters in Bombo, awaiting deployment.

The shake-up also saw significant changes in the police leadership. AIGP Rtd. Abas Byakagaba has been appointed as the new Inspector General of Police, deputized by AIGP James Ocaya. Ocaya’s previous role as Director of Research, Planning, and Development has been taken over by AIGP Hadijah Namutebi.

SCP Moses Kafeero has been appointed as the new Human Resources Director, replacing Godfrey Golooba. AIGP Fadil Kaali has taken over as Director of Fire and Rescue Services, replacing AIGP Joseph Mugisa, whose contract ends in June.

AIGP John Nuwagira has been transferred to the Field Force Unit’s Commandant, replacing Kaali. Nuwagira’s previous role as Director of Operations has been taken over by SCP Frank Mwesigwa.

The changes mark a significant shift in the police leadership and signal a new direction for the force. The recalled military officers, including Maj. Gen. Katsigazi and Kandiho (Abel), will await deployment at the UPDF headquarters.

The President’s move is seen as an effort to strengthen the police force and improve its operations. The changes have been welcomed by many, who see it as a positive step towards enhancing the country’s security.

The wazalendo in Kashalira

 

SADC force installs new mechanisms to ensure contingent effectiveness.

 

 Senior military leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission Force to of the DRC, have just put in place regular feedback mechanisms at all levels of command. According to their communication consulted, this initiative aims to guarantee adequate operational effectiveness and efficiency. This strategic option, she specifies, involves the chains of command as well as operational visits to the different contingents and units of the force headquarters. “Such visits are essential to enable the Force Commander and his leadership to interact with the troops and provide directives,” reads the official SADC website. With this in mind, the Force Commander carried out many of these visits to examine the state of operational readiness, we learn from the same source which also notes that “operational visits provide good feedback on how the force is carrying out its mandate to protect civilians and how it can be improved. At best, ensure good discipline and field feedback on operations, administration and logistics. Furthermore, SADC believes that military preparedness is essential to ensure that SAMIDRC troops are ready and able to fulfill the mandate effectively and efficiently. In this sense, soldiers are prepared for combat not only through their training, but also by ensuring that they are well supplied and equipped. “Combat readiness is highly dependent on an effective chain of supply, training, maintenance, inspection and feedback,” she said. Indeed, the Force Commander has made operational visits to where the Forces are deployed. During these visits, the Force Commander met with the troops and their commanders. To this activity is also added another advantage for the SAMIDRC leadership to take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen coordination between SAMIDRC units and the National Army of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and give directives on how and where to improve to achieve mission objectives. In particular, ensure cooperation to achieve effective protection of civilian populations. After the bombing of the displaced area in the city of Goma by the M23-RDF, SADC troops deployed in the DRC announced that they will carry out operations to neutralize M23 terrorists and maintain peace and security by protecting civilians and their property under imminent threat or attack. The deployment of the SAMIDRC was approved by the Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government held in Windhoek, Republic of Namibia, on 8 May 2023, as a regional response to address the volatile security situation and deteriorated situation which prevails in the east of the DRC. 

Rumours that Tshisekedi is about to terminate FARDC-UPDF joint operation against ADF.Could he have finally bowed to the pressure from media in Kinshasha?

 Towards the end of Military Cooperation FARDC_UPDF Congolese.

There is a rumour flowing all over Kinshasa that FARDC could be in plans of stopping cooperation with UPDF.There is a saying that both local and miltary intelligence has collected evidence of the involvement of the Ugandan army alongside the M23 terrorists. This evidence confirms the accusations of the local population who had already warned of support from Uganda to M23 terrorists.There is an allegation and rumour that Supreme Commander Félix Tshisekedi has decided to end joint operations of FARDC and UPDF.DRC government has been under pressure from various politicians and media houses arguing DRC to stop cooperation with UPDF on allegation that it supports M23 by giving them safe haven,transfer of foods and othe reinforcements.The media in congo has been pounding and blaming the DRC gorvenment for playing cowardice in avoiding to blame Uganda for directly or indirectly supporting M23.Let me hope this not true,I personally would not wish UPDF and FARDC tto stop cooperation,the ADF is one greatest threats in the region have allegiance to the IS ,if left un engaged miltarily ,we may end up seein a splee of terror attacks in our areas.I would wish these armies to sit together ,form a joint team to verify if the allegation of supporting M23 is holds matter ,but continued joint operation against ADF not only for the good of DRC/Uganda but importantly for the whole region.Immidiate halting of this operation would be disastrous,for it can give chance for the already disarrayed ADF to reorganize both miltarly and financially and worse of it all,it would be a won battle for the ADF terrorists,know it well that terrorist organisation do not want to see a combined efforts by countries for if countries combine efforts more especially in external and most importantly in domestic intelligence,terrorism cannot thrive.With nature of African porous borders and corrupt border manning officials miltarily engaging the terrorist becomes the best and immidiate solution.Actively engaging the terrorists demoralises and disorganises them from planning attacks and other financial undertakings.Let me pray to the almighty God ,that it remains a rumour! It very absurd and unrealistic to stop such an operation that is of great regional importance in terms of security!

Bogumila Bozeman,An M23 Polish mecenery was arrested in kukuku!

 A Polish mercenary arrested in a hotel in the Kikuku city by the FARDC after the flight of the terrorists RDF_M23 his name is Bogumila Bozema .

Wazalendo recovers a FARDC truck from the M23 in Busanza!!! ...,.some rare photos from Vitshumbi..

 Wazalendo self-defense resistance fighters managed to recover a Kamaz vehicle which belonged to the FARDC and which had been seized by the Rwandan RDF army. The operation to recover this Kamaz took place this Wednesday during a precision ambush attack against the RDF/M23 invaders on the Busanza axis. Congolese are proud and giving big thanks to wazalendo.

RARE PHOTOS ON VITSHUMBI ASSAULT 

M23 flee Vitshumbi via the lake.

 (Photo)The dawn match for Vitshumbi:operation Leopard's revenge.

As the fighting intensifies around Vitshumbi,the M23 trying to free have resorted to swimming via the lake.There was an early morning match by the Wazalendo and FARDC with determination to crush the enemies.The Wazalendo have vowed to die but save the Congolese soil from Rwandan attack.The Wazalendo have angrily said that the attack on Congolese soil is a sort of familiarity that kagame has over DRC and they hold that they will never stop defending the Congolese soil.In Goma today,the government is commemorating,burying and laying honour on the dead who were massacre in mugunga by M23 bomb.They will be buried in the  “cimetière des blancs” in Rwanguba of Nyiragongo territory .Then a ceremony with speeches will be held in the stadium of Unity "Stade de l'unit" in goma.Patrick Muyaya the government spokesperson dropped in Goma last night for this unfortunate function of officially burying the innocent refugees killed by M23 in mugunga camp

Uganda institute of communication Technology issues a statement on the Misconduct of a student who claimed to change stolen phones serial numbers.

 

UICT  is addressing a serious matter involving student misconduct. We condemn illegal activities and are fully cooperating with Police. Upholding ethical standards is paramount to us. Updates on investigations will be provided in due course.

Kishishe face heavy fire for the rest of the ended night

 As we wrote last night,a very big part of this ended night was characterized by heavy gun fire and long range artillery targets on M23 positions near kukuku.The FARDC and Wazalendo have cut off the kirima_kishishe section.The M23 have suffered under this heavy gun fire.The population in this area have spread to lusula,kanyabayonga and matanda.After a day of occupation of the locality of Katale in the territory of Masisi, the Wazalendo chased the M23 rebels supported by Rwanda from this area this Tuesday night, May 14, 2024 after fighting. In their flight, our sources claim that the M23_RDF killed 8 people in Katale. This morning, the Wazalendo are pursuing the M23, the clashes are taking place towards Shakingi in the Osso Banyungu sector. In the territory of Rutshuru, this morning, fighting was reported in Kitereka, near Bwalanda, in the Mutanda group, in the chiefdom of Bwito. In addition to these clashes, our sources report shootings in the town of Vitshumbi, in the Kanyabayonga group, since 6:30 am. The local populations are under the beds. We will come back to this information in detail in our next publications. 

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the designation of James Swan of the United States as his Acting Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM).

  Mr. Swan will act as Special Representative for a temporary period following the departure of Catriona Laing of the United Kingdom, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for her dedicated service in UNSOM and Somalia at a challenging time.Mr. Swan is an experienced diplomat with a long career in African countries facing complex political transitions.  Most recently, he served as Special Representative for Somalia and Head of UNSOM from 2019 to 2022.  Prior to that, he served in the United States Government as Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2013 to 2016, Special Representative for Somalia from 2011 to 2013, and Ambassador to Djibouti from 2008 to 2011.

In his earlier career, Mr. Swan was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs from 2006 to 2008, and Director of African Analysis in the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research from 2005 to 2006.  Prior to holding these assignments, Mr. Swan held various assignments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Congo, Somalia, Cameroon, Nicaragua and Haiti.

Mr. Swan holds a B.Sc. degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, an M.A. from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and a Master’s degree in Security Studies from the National War College, all in the United States.  He is fluent in English and French.