My wife used to give me transport money after meeting her - Kulayigye

Solomon Serwanjja, the Executive Director of the African Institute for Investigative Journalism, recently had a wide-ranging conversation with Gen. Kulayigye, who is the spokesperson of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF).

During the interview, Serwanjja asked him if the army cares about the mental health of junior officers.

Before responding to the question, Brig. Gen. Felix Kulayigye offered some background story.

"You know you are talking to me as if I started as a General," he started.

"I was a private soldier, earning Shs1,945 per month. I had a wife, when I would visit her in Iganga, she would be the one to give me transport back."

According to his Wikipedia entry, the army spokesman is married to Justine Bagonza.

Who is Felix Kulayigye?

The army chief assumed his current position on February 4, 2022, replacing Brig. Flavia Byekwaso, who was sent on a course at the National Defense College, Uganda.

It was the second time President Yoweri Museveni, who is also the Commander-in-Chief, was appointing him the UPDF spokesperson, having served in this role from 2005 until 2013.

Previously, he was the Political Commissar of the UPDF and concurrently served as a Member of Parliament, representing the UPDF.

His Wikipedia shows he was born around 1964 to Fredrick Semichacha and Regina Abagirinka in Gayaza Village, in Masaka District.

He sat Primary Leaving Examinations at St. Herman Nkoni Boys' Primary School in Masaka, then attended Kabalega Secondary School for O-Level and Kololo High School for A-Level. Later, he entered Makerere University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Education, in 1989. He would return at the same university for a Master of Arts in Economic Policy and Planning.

He joined Uganda's armed forces in 1989, after completing his first university degree.

In February 2019, he was promoted from the rank of colonel to brigadier, in a military promotions exercise that involved more than 2,000 UPDF men and women.