President Yoweri Museveni has advised 19 retiring Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) generals to invest their retirement benefits cautiously, urging them to prioritise secure investments such as fixed accounts and treasury bonds rather than rushing into risky ventures.
Museveni made the remarks at State House Entebbe while congratulating the senior officers on their retirement from active military service after decades of contribution to Uganda’s security and stability.
The President said the retirees had made significant sacrifices for the country and deserved recognition for their service, describing their contribution to the UPDF and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) as part of the foundation upon which peace and security have been built.
“I could go on and on about each of these Generals. I personally know, in detail, the contribution each one has made. That is how much I appreciate the excellent work they have done. I salute them,” Museveni said.
He added that he was particularly pleased to meet the families of the retiring officers, who he said had also played an important role in supporting the generals throughout their long military careers. “I was also happy to meet their families,” he said.
Museveni’s Financial Advice
With the generals now transitioning from active military service into retirement, Museveni turned his attention to one of the major challenges facing retirees—how to manage their accumulated savings and retirement benefits.
Rather than putting their money into businesses that require constant supervision or significant additional capital, the President encouraged the officers to place their savings in secure financial instruments capable of generating regular returns.
He specifically cited treasury bonds and fixed accounts as safer options. “If you can put Shs600 million and you are getting 15 percent, by the end of the year that is Shs90 million profit,” Museveni said.
The President said such investments could provide retirees with an income stream while allowing them to enjoy retirement without being forced into businesses they may not have the experience or time to manage. “What will be safer is simply to put the money where it will earn interest,” he said.
Museveni warned the retirees against immediately committing large sums of money to ventures simply because they had received substantial retirement packages. He advised them to first secure their capital and then use the returns to finance other projects.
His message was essentially that retirement should not become a period of financial experimentation, particularly for people who had spent their productive years serving in the military.
‘Go Rear Goats’
For those who already own land, Museveni offered another investment option: goat rearing. The President said livestock farming could provide a relatively simple and sustainable source of income, particularly because goats have a ready market and do not require expensive artificial feeds. “You can rear goats. Can you fail to get buyers? They don’t need artificial feeds. You can have them on a small scale, something simple, safe and sustainable,” he said.
Museveni’s advice reflected his long-standing emphasis on agricultural production as a source of household income and wealth creation.
He encouraged the officers to begin modestly instead of investing all their retirement savings into large-scale agricultural projects whose management could become difficult.
For retirees with land, he suggested that livestock could provide an additional source of income while keeping their investment exposure relatively low.
The President also encouraged the generals to consider ventures such as fish farming and rental housing, but only after securing their savings and generating returns from safer investments.
“First plant the seeds where they germinate and use the harvest in other projects,” he said.
The advice comes at a significant moment for the 19 senior military officers, many of whom have spent more than three decades in the security services.
Museveni Praises Generals
Museveni attributed Uganda’s peace and security to a combination of factors, including the ideology of patriotism, military technology and the strength of the national economy.
“I congratulate the retiring Generals for the great contribution they have made to the UPDF,” he said. “The Army and the NRM have been able to build peace and security in Uganda because of many factors, including our ideology of patriotism, modern military technology and the strength of our national economy.”
The President said he personally knew the contribution made by the individual officers and was therefore able to appreciate their careers beyond their official titles.
The retiring generals include Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, Lt. Gen. Charles Otema Awany, Lt. Gen. Charles Angina, Maj. Gen. Abel Kandiho, Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Tumusiime Katsigazi, Maj. Gen. Apollo Kasiita Gowa and Maj. Gen. Leopold Kyanda. Others are Brig. Gen. E. Muhanguzi, Brig. Gen. S. Omar, Brig. Gen. F. Zakye, Brig. Gen. F.R. Akiiki, Brig. Gen. M.S. Kisame, Brig. Gen. P.B. Mwesigwe, Brig. Gen. S.T. Kashure, Brig. Gen. S.N. Ocan, Brig. Gen. M.K. Bitimbika, Brig. Gen. C. Bakahumura, Brig. Gen. C.K. Asiimwe and Brig. Gen. C.M. Muhindo.
Their retirement marks the end of long military careers that have seen them occupy senior command, operational and administrative positions within the UPDF.
Katumba’s Long Service
Among the most prominent retirees is Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, whose career in Uganda’s security forces spans several decades.
Katumba rose through the ranks to become Chief of Defence Forces before moving into civilian government, where he served as Minister of Works and Transport.
His retirement alongside other senior officers marks a major generational transition within the military establishment. The officers were honoured for their service as they formally exited active military duty.
Tributes Pour In
The retirement has also attracted tributes from political leaders and former colleagues who praised the officers for their service to Uganda.
NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong thanked Museveni for identifying and nurturing talent within the movement and the military.
“We thank H.E. @KagutaMuseveni for always identifying talent, nurturing it, and supervising it until retirement,” Todwong said.
He welcomed the retiring officers back into civilian life, describing their decades of service as a milestone worth celebrating. “Welcome back home, my brother. A service to the nation spanning more than four decades is indeed worth celebrating,” he said.
Todwong also paid tribute to Lt. Gen. Charles Otema Awany, noting the opportunity he had been given to serve and the mentorship he received during his military career.
“We have started celebrating the retirement of Lt. Gen. Charles Otema. We thank H.E. @KagutaMuseveni for the opportunity to serve and for his continued mentorship,” he said.
Former Aruu County MP Odonga Otto also reflected on Otema’s military journey.
He described Otema as a man of foresight, recalling his decision to leave the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) and join the National Resistance Army (NRA).
“Foresight is one of the qualities of a leader, so is Gen. Otema Awany,” Otto said.
He recalled Otema’s early decision to join the NRA at a time when many others were uncertain about the movement’s future. “Many joined the bush, he didn’t. Many ridiculed NRM. He stood firm,” Otto said.
The retirement of the 19 generals therefore represents more than a formal military ceremony. It marks the closing of a chapter for a group of officers whose careers have been intertwined with Uganda’s modern security history.
As they leave active service, Museveni’s message was clear: protect the money earned during decades of service, avoid unnecessary financial risks and use secure investments to generate income.
And for those with land, his advice was even simpler—rear goats, keep the money in fixed accounts and let the returns finance bigger projects.
Author Profile
- Charles Gazza Kodili is a seasoned journalist with over 20 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication. He’s currently the Chief Editor at the Investigator.
Charles can also be reached via; Tel: +256 774 108978
Email: [email protected]
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