Military service is a lifelong commitment, CDF tells retiring officers

Speaking to officers ranked between Major and Colonel at the UPDF headquarters in Mbuya, Kampala, he conveyed that retirement does not signify the end of their duty.

"You must already know that for some professions like ours, one never really retires. Being a soldier is not a job like other jobs, it is a vocation," Gen. Kainerugaba stated.

“It is a calling. You do not hear of a monk or a priest retiring... they can step back from full-time assignment... but theirs is a lifelong commitment to the church.”

Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba urged the retiring officers to remain available to support the UPDF as needed.

"Similarly, we too, are priests and our church in Uganda. Our mission to have a secure, peaceful, and prosperous Uganda does not end because we stop wearing uniforms," he remarked.

The General, who also serves as a senior presidential advisor on Special Operations, applauded the officers for their exemplary service and for maintaining clean records. "That is an achievement," he acknowledged.

The CDF highlighted the sacrifices made by UPDF soldiers, saying, "In our line of work, we expect to be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice for our beloved country. For Uganda, our fatherland, no sacrifice is too great."

Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba praised the commitment of UPDF personnel over decades and the continuation of this dedication by younger soldiers serving in various operations across Sudan, Somalia, Karamoja, and other locations.

The event also served as a moment to honor fallen soldiers.