The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) has elected ten officers to represent the army in the 12th Parliament for the 2026–2031 term following a vote by the Defence Forces Council at Bombo in Luweero District.
The election was held at the Land Forces Headquarters and chaired by President Yoweri Museveni in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief.
Acting army spokesperson Chris Magezi said the process followed the law governing special interest group representation.
“The election was conducted in accordance with the Constitution and the Parliamentary Elections Act, under which the UPDF is recognised as a special interest group represented in Parliament,” Magezi said.
The exercise was supervised by the Electoral Commission led by Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Returning Officer, Diana Kateeba Tumusiime, announcing the final results.
Elected Army Representatives
The officers elected to represent the UPDF in Parliament are:
Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding – Deputy Chief of Defence Forces
Lt. Gen. Sam Kavuma – Deputy Coordinator, Operation Wealth Creation
Lt. Gen. James Mugira – Managing Director, National Enterprise Corporation
Maj. Gen. Henry Masiko – Joint Staff Political Commissar
Maj. Gen. James Kinalwa – Joint Staff Human Resource Management
Maj. Gen. Joseph Ssemwanga – Deputy Commander, Land Forces
Brig. Gen. David Gonyi – Chief of Staff, Air Force
Female representatives:
Col. Night Ikiriza – Special Forces Command
Col. Sylvia Meeme – Military Police
Col. Christine Nekesa – Air Force
Lt. Gen. Okiding topped the vote with 346 ballots, followed by Col. Sylvia Meeme with 314 and Col. Night Ikiriza with 307.
End of an Era
The vote marks the end of the tenure of the outgoing UPDF MPs who served in the 11th Parliament, many of whom also held cabinet and senior military positions.
They included Gen. David Muhoozi, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, Gen. Wilson Mbadi, Gen. (Rtd) Peter Elwelu, Lt. Gen. James Mugira and Maj. Gen. Henry Masiko.
With the new team in place, the UPDF has now completed its constitutional process of selecting representatives to Parliament, maintaining military participation in Uganda’s legislative system under civilian oversight.
