The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has appointed Brigadier General Asaph Mweteise Nyakikuru as the Acting Commander of the Special Forces Command (SFC), one of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces’ (UPDF) most elite units.
As part of the appointment, Gen. Muhoozi also granted Brig. Gen. Nyakikuru the acting rank of Major General, elevating him to oversee the command responsible for protecting the President, members of the First Family, key national installations, and carrying out other specialised military operations.
The appointment marks another significant change in the leadership of the Special Forces Command, a formation that plays a critical role in Uganda’s national security architecture.
Maj. Gen. (Acting) Nyakikuru is expected to immediately assume his new responsibilities as Acting Commander, taking charge of the force’s operational readiness, strategic deployments, and ongoing security assignments.
Although the UPDF had not immediately released further details regarding the transition or the circumstances surrounding the appointment, military observers say the move reflects continued efforts by the Chief of Defence Forces to strengthen command structures within the army.
The Special Forces Command remains one of the UPDF’s most strategically important formations, entrusted with high-profile security duties and special operations both within and outside Uganda when required.
The latest appointment underscores Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s continued reshaping of the UPDF leadership as he seeks to enhance operational effectiveness across the country’s military establishment.
