Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has appointed Maj Gen Richard Otto as the new Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security (CDIS).
The changes, announced on Wednesday evening and effective immediately, come as the UPDF intensifies its regional military operations, particularly in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where its troops are battling Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels under Operation Shujaa.
Maj Gen Otto, previously the Commander of the Mountain Infantry Division based in Fort Portal, swaps positions with Maj Gen James Birungi, who now returns to lead the Mountain Division. The new reshuffle not only repositions two of the army’s seasoned generals but also underscores the importance of military intelligence and frontline operations in Uganda’s evolving security landscape.
Maj Gen Richard Otto brings to his new role a wealth of operational and strategic military experience. He has previously commanded the UPDF 3rd Division in Moroto, a region known for cross-border security challenges and disarmament operations, and also served as Uganda’s Defence Attaché in Kinshasa, DRC.
His appointment as Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security is seen as a strategic move to bolster intelligence coordination, especially given Uganda’s ongoing military engagement across its western border.
As head of Defence Intelligence, Maj Gen Otto will now oversee surveillance, intelligence gathering, and analysis critical to national security and the success of Uganda’s external military deployments.
On the other hand, Maj Gen James Birungi’s redeployment to command the Mountain Division, based in Fort Portal, is equally significant.
This Division not only guards the Rwenzori region but also plays a central role in Operation Shujaa in the DRC. Gen Birungi is a veteran officer who has held key command positions in the UPDF, including previously heading the Military Intelligence Directorate and the elite Special Forces Command (SFC).
