Maj Gen James Birungi has officially taken over as Commander of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Mountain Division and Operation Shujja, succeeding Maj Gen Richard Otto in a handover ceremony held at Muhooti Barracks, Fort Portal, Kabarole District.
Presiding over the event, Commander of Land Force Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga praised the achievements made under Maj Gen Otto’s leadership and expressed confidence in Maj Gen Birungi’s capability to advance the mission.
Lt Gen Muhanga underscored the progress of the joint UPDF-FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo) offensive against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) since Operation Shujja was launched in 2021. “When we entered DR Congo, the enemy had well-established camps, livestock, and even collected taxes from civilians. Today, most of those camps—like Kambi Yajua, near Semliki, have been destroyed,” he said.
He added, “Many ADF commanders have been eliminated. What remains are remnants soon to be wiped out.”
Lt Gen Muhanga also commended the Congolese forces for their strong cooperation, which he said had helped restore peace in the Rwenzori region and Eastern DRC, allowing communities to resume normal life.
Maj Gen Otto expressed his gratitude to the President and the Army leadership for the opportunity to lead the division and Operation Shujja. He noted that the stability achieved during his tenure had improved trade between Uganda and DR Congo. “The support of the Congolese people and FARDC has been vital in degrading ADF capacity,” he said, adding that “peace is flourishing, and cross-border socio-economic activity is booming.”
Maj Gen Birungi thanked the UPDF leadership for their trust and vowed to maintain momentum in the fight against the remaining ADF insurgents. He acknowledged the contributions of his predecessors and pledged to collaborate with local leaders, the Tooro Kingdom, and the wider Rwenzori region “to maintain peace and security.”
He also reaffirmed the importance of ongoing coordination with FARDC, calling it essential to the success of the joint operations.
Operation Shujja was launched in November 2021 under a bilateral agreement between Uganda and the DRC, following a series of deadly attacks in Kampala attributed to the ADF.
The ceremony was attended by: Maj Gen Paul Muhangizi, the 2 Division Commander; Brig Gen Paul Muwonge, the Mountain Division Deputy Commander, senior UPDF and FARDC officers, local officials, religious leaders, representatives of the Tooro Kingdom, and staff from Mountain of the Moon University.
