Uganda People's Defence Force Land Forces | |
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![]() Uganda People's Defence Force emblem | |
Active | 1962 |
Country |
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Part of | Uganda People's Defence Force |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Yoweri Museveni |
The Uganda People's Defence Force Land forces is the army of Uganda
Current organisation[]

Ugandan land forces on parade.
As of June 2013, the land forces commander appeared to be Major General David Muhoozi.[1] In 2012, Muhoozi was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and appointed commander of the air defence unit in Nakasongola. He previously served as the brigade commander for the mechanised brigade in Masaka.[citation needed]
Before his appointment as commander of the defence forces, General Katumba Wamala served as the commander of land forces. Wamala was among the military cadets sent to the Monduli Military Academy in Tanzania in 1979 (now the Tanzania Military Academy) and served as inspector general of police until 2005. Wamala succeeded General Aronda Nyakairima as chief of the defence force.
In August 2012, Major General Fredrick Mugisha, previously in charge of the African Union Mission in Somalia, was appointed the new joint chief of staff.[2] Brigadier Charles Angina, formerly the General Court Martial chairperson, was promoted to major general and appointed chief of staff of the land forces.[2]
The organisation of the land forces was reported in 2015 to be as follows:[3]
- five division headquarters
- one armoured brigade
- one motorised infantry brigade
- one tank battalion
- Presidential Guard brigade
- one engineer brigade
- one commando battalion
- 5 infantry divisions (total: 16 infantry brigades)
- one artillery brigade
- two air defence battalions
Divisions[]
The divisions are:
- First Division: Kakiri, Wakiso District.
- Second Division: Makenke Barracks, Mbarara (Brigadier Peter Elewelu). It is composed of three brigades and four auxiliary battalions, according to the website of the Ministry of Defence Uganda. This division, according to afdevinfo.com, includes the divisional headquarters at Mbarara; the 17th, 69th, 73rd, and 77th battalions; the Rwenzori Mountain Alpine Brigade; possibly another Alpine brigade; and the 3rd Tank Battalion. The division has been heavily involved with border operations since the Congo Civil War began in the 1990s. Brigadier Peter Elwelu took command in a ceremony on 17 July 2013. He had been appointed in June 2013.[1]
- Third Division: Moroto (Brigadier Dick Olum). Before 2013, the Third Division headquarters was reported to be at Mbale.[4]
- Fourth Division: Gulu District (Brigadier Kayanja Muhanga, until December 2016 when he took command of the Ugandan contingent with AMISOM in Somalia.[5] James Kazini served with this division in 1996-99.[citation needed]
- Fifth Division: Lira (Brigadier Sam Kavuma). Created in August 2002.[6] As of 2013, the division appears to include the 401 Brigade.[7]
- Field Artillery Division: Masindi (Brigadier Sam Okiding, who was Ugandan Contingent Commander with AMISOM, 2015–16)[citation needed]
- Air Defence Division: Nakasongala (Brigadier Garvas Mugyenyi since May 2013)
Brigades[]
- Armoured Brigade: Kasijjagirwa Barracks, Masaka (Brigadier Joseph M. Ssemwanga)[8]
- Motorised Infantry Brigade: Nakasongola (Brigadier Tumusiime Katsigazi). Formed in September 2002 and is composed of three motorized infantry battalions.[9]
- 209 Brigade
- 301 Brigade
- 302 Brigade
- 303 Brigade
- 307 Brigade: Mburamizi, Kihihi, Kanungu District. Formed in June 2001 in Ntungamo District, when it included the 69 Battalion.[citation needed]
- 401 Brigade
- 403 Brigade: Kitgum
- 405 Brigade, Kotido
- 407 Brigade
- 409 Brigade: West Nile
- 503 Brigade: Gang-Dyang, Kitgum
- 507 Alpine Brigade: Kasese.
- 509 Brigade: Pader.
- 601 Brigade
Army equipment[]

Artist's rendition of a Ugandan T-55 tank, serving in AMISOM
Type | Origin | Acquired | In service | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
T-90 | Russia | Main Battle Tank | 100[10] | 44 | T-90S variant; 56 on order. |
Type 85 | China | Main Battle Tank | -- | In service as of 2017. | |
T-54/55 | Soviet Union | Main Battle Tank | 199[10] | 173 | |
T-34 | Soviet Union | Medium Tank | 10[10] | -- | |
M4 Sherman | United States | Medium Tank | 12[10] | 3 | |
PT-76 | Soviet Union | Light Tank | 50[10] | 20 | |
BMP-2 | Ukraine | Infantry Fighting Vehicle | 31[10] | Sourced from Ukraine. | |
BTR-80 | Soviet Union | Armoured Personnel Carrier | 32[10] | BTR-80A. | |
BTR-60 | Soviet Union | Armoured Personnel Carrier | 20[10] | 12 | |
BTR-152 | Soviet Union | Armoured Personnel Carrier | 74[10] | -- | |
OT-64 SKOT | Czechoslovakia | Armoured Personnel Carrier | 36[10] | 4 | |
Mamba | South Africa | MRAP | 40[10] | ||
RG-31 Nyala | South Africa | MRAP | 15[10] | ||
Buffel | South Africa | MRAP | 51[10] | ||
Casspir | South Africa | MRAP | 42[10] | For peacekeeping missions. | |
Eland Mk7 | South Africa | Armoured Car | 40[10] | Eland-90. | |
Alvis Saladin | United Kingdom | Armoured Car | 36[10] | -- | |
Ferret | United Kingdom | Scout Car | 15[10] | -- | Some sources report up to 60. |
BRDM-1 | Soviet Union | Scout Car | 98[10] | -- | |
BRDM-2 | Soviet Union | Scout Car | 100[10] | -- | |
SAMIL | South Africa | Utility Vehicle | 450[10] | ||
Chubby | South Africa | Mine Detection Vehicle | 1[10] | ||
D-30 | Soviet Union | Howitzer | 9[10] | ||
M-30 | Soviet Union | Howitzer | 18[10] | -- | Sourced from Libya. |
M-46 | Soviet Union | Field Gun | 8[10] | Sourced from Bulgaria. | |
Cardom | Israel | Heavy Mortar | 18[10] | ||
ATMOS 2000 | Israel | Self-propelled Howitzer | 6[10] | ||
BM-21 Grad | Soviet Union | Multiple Rocket Launcher | 20[10] | ||
RM-70 | Czechoslovakia | Multiple Rocket Launcher | 6[10] | Purchased 2001-2002. |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Turyakira, Fred (20 July 2013). "Elwelu appointed new 2nd Division UPDF commander". Kampala. http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/645248-elwelu-appointed-new-2nd-division-updf-commander.html.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Muhoozi Promoted to Brigadier". Kampala: Uganda Radio Network. 27 August 2012. https://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/muhoozi-promoted-to-brigadier.
- ↑ Griffiths, Jordan Luke; Martin, Guy (30 January 2015). "Uganda People's Defence Force". defenceWeb. http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=37705:uganda-peoples-defence-force&catid=119:african-militaries&Itemid=255.
- ↑ 3rd Division Mbale – Uganda
- ↑ Kamali, David (26 November 2016). "Uganda says army's salary arrears 'ready'". Alleastafrica. https://www.alleastafrica.com/2016/11/26/uganda-says-nine-months-army-salary-ready/.
- ↑ Atuhaire, Alex B. (7 August 2002). "Uganda: Museveni Creates UPDF 5th Division". Kampala: New Vision. http://allafrica.com/stories/200208070647.html.
- ↑ Columbus Tusiime. "Security Operative on the Run for Robbery". Uganda Radio Network. http://ugandaradionetwork.com/a/story.php?s=18089&PHPSESSID=2ea4273e2283273b1f8e675db02ed25c.
- ↑ Ssekweyama, Martins E. (3 January 2017). "UPDF Investigates rebel recruitment in Masaka, warns youths". The Monitor. Kampala. http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/UPDF-Investigates-rebel-recruitment-in-Masaka--warns-youths/688334-3505280-t8yoesz/index.html.
- ↑ Ministry of Defence Uganda, UPDF Motorised Infantry, accessed 14 June 2016, <http://portal.defence.go.ug:10039/wps/portal/mod-home/armed-forces/land-forces/!ut/p/a1/04_Sj9CPykssy0xPLMnMz0vMAfGjzOIt_Q0sDL0NjLz8Lf3NDRwtDEwDA41dDQxMTYEKIoEKDHAARwM0_SHmjgaO7mHmgf4-lp6e3jD9eBQQsD9cPwqsBI8LvIhwg2NekrFFun5UUWpaalFqkV5pEdDvGSUlBVaqBqoG5eXleilAmbzkVL30fL3SdFUDbJoy8otL9CMwFOsX5IZGGOhGJVWWOyoCAPd0lwo!/dl5/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/>. Note this website's pages now (7 January 2017) appears to have restricted access.
- ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 10.14 10.15 10.16 10.17 10.18 10.19 10.20 10.21 10.22 10.23 10.24 10.25 10.26 10.27 "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
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