UPDF Officers Urged To Plan Ahead: Avoid Last-Minute Retirement Extensions

The Deputy Commander of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Air Force, Major General David Isimbwa, has emphasised the need for proactive retirement planning among service members, cautioning against last-minute requests for service extensions.

 

Referencing Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, he remarked, “There is a time for everything,” including both a time to serve and a time to retire.

 

Maj Gen Isimbwa shared these insights today during a send-off ceremony for twenty Air Force Non-Commissioned Officers at the UPDF Air Force headquarters in Entebbe. He praised the soldiers for their invaluable contributions to national and international peacekeeping missions, which have fostered peace both in Uganda and abroad.

Reflecting on the journey from enlistment to retirement, Maj Gen Isimbwa celebrated the resilience of the retirees, acknowledging the challenges they overcame to reach this milestone in good health. He reminded them that while they are stepping back from active duty, they remain part of the Air Force’s legacy and may be called upon if needed.

 

Encouraging them to apply their skills beyond the military, he also recognised the enduring impact of their service.

 

Chief of Staff of the UPDF Air Force, Brigadier General David Gonyi, commended the retirees for their legacy of courage, dedication, and selflessness, which has laid the foundation for the Air Force’s growth and success. Brig Gen Gonyi also expressed gratitude to the retirees’ families, acknowledging the sacrifices they made in supporting their loved ones through long deployments and extended hours.

 

In a heartfelt address, Warrant Officer Class One Musinguzi, the senior-most retiree, reflected on his fulfilling career in the UPDF Air Force. Tracing his journey from the National Resistance Army to the UPDF, he shared how resilience, leadership, and dedication had defined his career. Quoting General George S. Patton Jr., he said, “It is better to fight for something than to live for nothing.”

 

The ceremony was attended by Senior and Junior Officers as well as family members.