Maj.Gen. James Birungi takes office as new SFC commander
Maj.Gen.Don Nabasa has on Wednesday afternoon handed over office to the new Special Forces Command commander, Maj.Gen.James Birungi.
President Museveni who is also the commander in chief of the armed forces early this month appointed Birungi, the then Uganda People’s Defence Air Forces Chief of Staff to replace Nabasa who is destined to go to Chine for further training.
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On Wednesday, the handover ceremony was held at the 10th Marine Battalion headquarters, Entebbe and was presided over by the Special Presidential advisor on Special Operations, Lt.Gen.Muhoozi Karugaba.
In his speech, Maj Gen. Nabasa highlighted some of his achievements as the SFC commander, a position he assumed in 2017 as bridging the accommodation gaps by constructing and renovating a host of housing units, conducting skilled and specialised trainings for troops, building of the Dr. Ronald Bata memorial Hospital as well as expanding and equipping it with the state of the art machines.
“This hospital caters for the militants, their families and the civilian communities around Lunyo Barracks in Entebbe,” said the UPDF spokesperson, Brig. Richard Karemire in a statement.
In his acceptance speech, the incoming Maj Gen. Birungi, applauded President Museveni for entrusting in him with the office of the commander of the Special Forces Command.
He pledged to work tirelessly with the support of the UPDF leadership and other officers.
Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba applauded the outgoing SFC commander for a job well done especially in regards infrastructure development but asked the incoming unit commander to focus more on skilled training especially in the area of paratrooping.
The function was attended by the Commander of Land Forces, Lt Gen Peter Elwelu, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Maj Gen Muzeyi Sabiiti, Deputy Commander Air Forces, Maj Gen Gavas Mugyenyi, Deputy Commander of Special Forces Command, Col Peter Candia and the Director of Administration for SFC, Col Felix Busizoori.
The outgoing Maj.Gen.Don Nabasa was appointed as the SFC commander in January 2017 to replace Lt.Gen.Muhoozi Kainerugaba who had been appointed as the Special Presidential Adviser on special operations.
About SFC
The Special Forces Command is an elite unit responsible for the security of the President of Uganda and members of the first family.
The SFC also guards state guests and other Very Very Important Persons (VVIPs) as well key strategic national installations including the oil fields.
The Special Forces Command, a unit of the UPDF according to its website says it is a specialized component of the UPDF tasked to carry out special missions in support of national military objectives.
“To develop and operate a powerful and versatile special operations force that is situated within the unique Ugandan way of war and is responsive to the requirements of the UPDF and the nation,” reads in part the SFC mission.
The unit also carries out special missions to complement the UPDF like it was deployed in Somalia to help fight Al Shabaab snipers who were killing Ugandan soldiers.
The deployment of SFC snipers changed the game and it turned against the terrorist group that was forced to abandon Mogadishu where they operated freely especially in tall buildings.
