Gen Muhoozi Reshuffles Uganda’s Special Forces Command

Kampala, August 3, 2026 - Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces and Senior Presidential Adviser on Special Operations, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has appointed Brig Gen Asaph Mweteise Nyakikuru as the acting commander of the Special Forces Command (SFC), in a leadership change that took effect on August 3. Nyakikuru has also been granted the acting rank of Major General as he assumes responsibility for the elite military formation.

Nyakikuru replaces Major Gen David Mugisha, who had been serving as commander of the SFC. According to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), Mugisha is expected to leave the position to attend a high-level security training programme at the National Defence College abroad in the coming months. The military commended him for his service and wished him success in his further security studies.

The UPDF also welcomed Nyakikuru to the new assignment, congratulating him on both his appointment and temporary promotion. His responsibilities will include overseeing the operations of the SFC, one of Uganda’s most strategically important military formations.

The Special Forces Command is responsible for specialized security and military operations, including the protection of senior government officials. The unit currently plays a central role in providing security to President Yoweri Museveni, making the change in its leadership particularly significant within Uganda’s security establishment.

The latest appointment places Nyakikuru in charge of a command that has responsibilities extending beyond conventional military duties. Its role in protecting the country’s senior leadership and carrying out specialized security operations makes the SFC a key component of Uganda’s national security structure.