The Chief of Staff of the UPDF Air Force, Brigadier General David Gonyi, has urged Ugandans to preserve the country’s peace as preparations intensify for the 2026 general elections.
He made the remarks in Nansana, Wakiso District, while officiating at the opening of a new Wazalendo UPDF Sacco office.
Serving as chief guest, Gen. Gonyi, who commands the UPDF Air Force, stressed the need for unity and stability during the election period. He said Ugandans must protect the gains achieved over the years as the country enters a politically charged season.
The event attracted several senior officers, with speakers encouraging soldiers to embrace financial discipline to ensure meaningful growth through Sacco-backed development initiatives. Gen. Gonyi urged personnel to use Sacco loans responsibly and continue supporting what he described as the President’s vision of safeguarding national progress.
He warned that many countries collapse when citizens fail to defend the progress they have already made, and he called on soldiers to remain exemplary in responsible borrowing and community service.
He also conveyed a message of support from the Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, assuring members that the CDF stands firmly behind the Sacco.
Wazalendo’s Director of Operations, William Atalyeba, reaffirmed the institution’s ambition to become one of the largest and most successful Saccos globally.
Sacco CEO Colonel Yusuf Buha said the organisation offers affordable loans to shield soldiers from predatory lenders who charge exorbitant interest rates.
Wazalendo UPDF Sacco has more than 16,000 members across the country and operates 19 branches, including 13 cash offices.
The new Nansana branch extends its reach and is expected to ease access to financial services for soldiers in the area.
Some officers also used the platform to call for greater inclusion of retired soldiers in Sacco programmes, noting that veterans remain an important part of the wider UPDF welfare ecosystem.