KAMPALA, August 3, 2026 — The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations (SPA/SO), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has reshuffled the leadership of the Special Forces Command (SFC), appointing Brig Gen Asaph Mweteise Nyakikuru as the new Acting Commander of the elite force.
The appointment, which takes immediate effect, was announced on Monday by the Acting Director of Defence Public Information, Col Chris Magezi.
In the same changes, Brig Gen Nyakikuru has been elevated to the acting rank of Major General, underscoring the confidence placed in him to lead one of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces’ (UPDF) most strategic and highly trained units.
Acting Maj Gen Nyakikuru replaces Maj Gen David Mugisha, who is expected to leave the command in the coming months to pursue strategic security studies at the prestigious National Defence College (NDC) abroad.
The UPDF praised Maj Gen Mugisha for his distinguished service, saying his leadership left a lasting impact on the Special Forces Command.
“The UPDF thanks Major General David Mugisha for the outstanding tour of duty as Commander SFC and wishes him good luck in his strategic security studies,” Col Magezi said in the official statement.
The military also congratulated Acting Maj Gen Nyakikuru on both his promotion and appointment, expressing confidence in his ability to steer the elite command through its next phase of operations.
The Special Forces Command is one of the UPDF’s most critical formations, entrusted with protecting the President, the First Family, key national installations, and other strategic assets, while also undertaking specialised military operations whenever called upon.
The latest appointment reflects the UPDF’s continued efforts to strengthen its command structure through leadership renewal and professional military development.
With his immediate assumption of office, Acting Maj Gen Nyakikuru is expected to build on the achievements of his predecessor while advancing the operational readiness and strategic capabilities of the Special Forces Command.
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