Maj Gen Richard Otto has assumed office as the new Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, pledging to strengthen national stability and address evolving security challenges.
The handover ceremony took place at the Defence Intelligence and Security Headquarters in Mbuya, where Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga, Commander of the Land Force of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), urged officers to uphold leadership values, trust, and responsibility in their service.
“Leadership is not merely a position. It is a responsibility that demands sound decision-making, emotional intelligence, and moral courage,” Lt Gen Muhanga said. He emphasized that effective command is built on five core principles: leadership, trust, decision-making, welfare of subordinates, and decentralisation.
Maj Gen Otto, who previously commanded the Mountain Division and Operation Shujaa, described his appointment as an honour rooted in years of trusted service. “This is not the first time I’ve been entrusted with sensitive positions. Each one of them has been a test of trust and leadership,” he said, referencing his past leadership roles in the Central African Republic and Somalia in 2020.
He pledged to build on the foundation laid by his predecessor, Maj Gen James Birungi, and committed to confronting both emerging and ongoing security threats, especially in the lead-up to Uganda’s next general elections.
Outgoing Chief Maj Gen Birungi, who now heads to command the Mountain Infantry Division, thanked President Yoweri Museveni and Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba for their trust. He congratulated Maj Gen Otto and offered his support during the transition. “As you settle in, my lines of communication remain open should you require any support,” he said.
The ceremony drew senior officers from the Land Force, Air Force, Special Forces Command, and Defence Intelligence, marking a significant leadership transition within Uganda’s military intelligence community.
