Maj Gen Bob Ogiki, Joint Staff Policy and Planning in the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), has praised the UPDF legal team for its key contributions, including the development of the UPDF Establishment 2021 and the UPDF Amendment Bill 2024, as well as the establishment of Land Offices at the Division level. He also highlighted the growth of the Legal Office from just five officers in 1986 to a full battalion today.
Maj Gen Ogiki underscored the positive impact of the UPDF’s Legal Department in encouraging officers to write wills, which has reduced the burden on the army when handling the estates of deceased officers.
He urged all UPDF personnel without wills to write them, noting, “Death is a matter of fact and something we should all be prepared for.”
Maj Gen Ogiki made these remarks while presiding over the handover ceremony of the Joint Staff Legal Services, where Brig Gen Prof Godard Busingye passed the baton to Brig Gen Moses Wandera at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs Headquarters in Mbuya.
He commended Brig Gen Busingye for his excellent service, particularly for keeping well-documented and preserved records during his tenure.
Advising Brig Gen Wandera, Maj Gen Ogiki emphasised the importance of developing subordinate staff for institutional growth, remarking, “A good leader is not for leading men, but for leading men for tomorrow.”
In his remarks, Brig Gen Prof Busingye encouraged his successor to consult with colleagues, stating, “If you have colleagues, you assign them; you don’t have to break so much.”
Brig Gen Wandera expressed gratitude for his new role, acknowledging the significance of his appointment. “Since 1986, I now become the fifth Joint Staff Legal Services in the history of this country and the UPDF,” he observed. He emphasised the importance of teamwork, transparency, and open communication, urging his staff to continue the cooperative spirit they shared with his predecessor.
The event was attended by notable senior officers, including Brig Gen Julius Mbaine, Brig Gen Robert Freeman Mugabe, Brig Gen Richard Tukachugurwa, and other officers from Legal Services.