President Yoweri Museveni the Commander in Chief of the armed forces has made 29 new appointments in the UPDF including the appointment of Brig. Gen. Flavia Byekwaso (49 years old) as the new army spokeswoman replacing long serving Brig. Gen Richard Karemire who has been posted as Uganda’s Defence Liaison Officer at EAC Secretariat in Arusha Tanzania. Others appointed in the new positions are ,.Maj Gen Sam Kiwanuka- Chief of Production&Welfare, Maj Gen Moses Ddiba Ssentongo_ Chief Mubende Rehabilitation Centre,Maj Gen Hudson Mukasa Chief of Staff Reserve Forces,Maj Gen Francis Okello_Commander National Defense College, Maj Gen Innocent Oula_Deputy MD NEC and will Deputise Gen. James Mugira, Maj Gen Don Nabasa_Contingent Commander-AMISOM,Brig Gen Emanuel Rwashande, Chief Civil Military Cooperation,Brig Gen Stephen Oluka, deployed to OWC and Brig Gen George Etyang-OWC. Others are Brig Gen Jeff Mukasa, Director Counter Terrorism,Brig Gen William Beinomugisha, Second in Command (-2/ic) 2 Division-Mbarara, Brig Gen James Kaija,Defense Advisor UK, Brig Gen Fred Karara, Defence Attache (DA) Sudan, Brig Gen Christopher Bbossa, DA China, Brig Gen Mike Kisame, DA Kenya, Brig Gen Joseph Balikudembe 3 Division Commander and Brig Gen Simon Ocan- DA Switzerland . Brig Gen Michael Kabango has been appointed seconded to AU Peace Support Operations Department,Brig Gen Felix Kulayigye, posted to Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), Brig Gen Mathew Gureme, Chief of Training & Recruitment, Brig Gen Tingira Irumba, Chief of Policy& Plans,Brig Gen Charles Asiimwe,Commander National Counter Terrorism Centre, Brig Gen Richard Otto, Deputy CMI, Brig Gen James Nambale, DA Turkey,Brig Gen Robert Ocama, OWC, Col Bahoku Barigye- DA Cuba and Col Keith Katungi, Commandant Military Police.
The new UPDF spokeswoman , Brigadier Flavia Byekwaso, is one of the 10 UPDF members of parliament who have served in 10th Parliament (2016–2021).She was born on 29 December 1971, in the Central Region of Uganda. She attended St. Mathias Kalemba Senior Secondary School, in Nazigo, Kayunga District, for both her O-Level and A-Level studies.
Byekwaso was recruited in the UPDF in 2000, starting at the rank of protocol officer and has served in different roles including, as a military assistant, an administrative officer and a logistics officer. Between 2014 until 2016 she served as the Director of Logistics in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces.
In 2016, at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, she was elected to be one of the ten military men and women who represent the UPDF in the 10th Parliament (2016–2021) before she was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General 2019. She is the second-highest ranking woman in the UPDF, behind bush -war historical –Proscovia Nalweyiso, whose is at the rank of Lieutenant General.
