Write your Wills before you Die! -Top UPDF officer tips colleagues in the Army

MBUYA, KAMPALA; 20 September 2024: Maj Gen. Bob Ogiki, the Uganda Peoples’ Defense Forces (UPDF) Joint Staff Policy and Planning has urged all UPDF personnel without wills to write them, noting that it eases the process of handling estates of deceased army officers.

Maj Gen Ogiki made these remarks on Friday while presiding over the handover ceremony of the Joint Staff Legal Services, where Brig Gen Prof Godard Busingye passed the baton to Brig Gen Moses Wandera at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs Headquarters in Mbuya.

While delivering his speech, Brig Ge. Ogiki underscored the positive impact of the UPDF’s Legal Department in encouraging officers to write wills, which has reduced the burden on the army when handling the estates of deceased officers.

“Death is a matter of fact and something we should all be prepared for.” he said.

Maj Gen Ogiki commended Brig Gen Busingye for his excellent service, particularly for keeping well-documented and preserved records during his tenure.

He lauded the UPDF legal team for its key contributions, including the development of the UPDF Establishment 2021 and the UPDF Amendment Bill 2024, as well as the establishment of Land Offices at the Division level but also appreciated the unit’s growth from just five officers in 1986 to a full battalion today.

Advising Brig Gen Wandera, Maj Gen Ogiki emphasised the importance of developing subordinate staff for institutional growth, remarking, “A good leader is not for leading men, but for leading men for tomorrow.”

In his remarks, Brig Gen Prof Busingye encouraged his successor to consult with colleagues, stating, “If you have colleagues, you assign them; you don’t have to break so much.”

Brig Gen Wandera expressed gratitude for his new role, acknowledging the significance of his appointment. “Since 1986, I now become the third Joint Staff Legal Services in the history of this country and the UPDF,” he observed. He emphasised the importance of teamwork, transparency, and open communication, urging his staff to continue the cooperative spirit they shared with his predecessor.

The event was attended by notable senior officers, including Brig Gen Julius Mbaine, Brig Gen Robert Freeman Mugabe, Brig Gen Richard Tukachugurwa, and other officers from Legal Services.