President Yoweri Museveni has reshuffled the army leadership, replacing the Army spokesperson Brig. General Richard Karemire with Brig. General Flavia Byekwaso.
Byekwaso becomes the first female spokesperson of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF).
Brig Karemire had replaced Lt. Col Paddy Ankunda in January 2017. This means that Karemire has been the spokesperson of the forces for the 3 years and 7 months.
He has been assigned to the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat as Defense Liaison Officer by the Head-of-State and Commander-in-Chief.
“Please join me to welcome Hon Brig Gen Flavia Byekwaso appointed the Defence Spokesperson following the end of my tour of duty. I have been assigned to EAC Secretariat as Defence Liaison Officer. I look forward to working on Integration as the solution for our strategic security.” Brig Karemire tweeted.
Byekwaso is an elected Member of Parliament representing the UPDF in the 10th Parliament. In 2016, at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, she was elected to be one of the ten military men and women who represent the UPDF in the 10th Parliament (2016–2021).
In 2019, in a promotions exercise involving over 2,000 men and women in the UPDF, she was promoted from the rank of Colonel to the rank of Brigadier General and became the second-highest ranking woman in the UPDF, behind Lt Gen Proscovia Nalweyiso.
Another notable change is Felix Kulayigye who has been deployed under the Operation Wealth Cereation.
