Brig Leopold Kyanda Fired
Brig Leopold Kyanda Fired
By Serestino Tusingwire
President Yoweri K Museveni who is the Commander In Chief of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces has sacked Brig Leopold Kyanda who was the UPDF Chief of Staff, Land Forces.
It is believed that the sacking stems from the allegations that Kyanda was involved in the illegal arms deal with the Polish arms contractors.
It is alleged that conmen led by Sam Ssimbwa while at Bombo military barracks lied to the contractors they needed arms worth millions of dollars and told them to send the money for paperwork after which they took off.
Kyanda came to be involved in the matter when upon the arrest of Ssimbwa, he ordered Police’s Special Investigations Unit Commander, Mark Odong to release Ssimbwa with immediate effect.
This however put him in position that he had a hand in the alleged deal.
Though Kyanda refuted the allegations saying that he does not even know Ssimbwa, this apparently did not convince the commander in chief who went ahead to fire him.
The UPDF spokesperson has confirmed the news adding that the president has appointed Brig Geoffrey Katsigazi as a caretaker of the land forces as he looks for the permanent replacement.
WHO IS KYANDA?
Leopold Eric Kyanda is a Brigadier in the Uganda People’s Defence Force. He was serving as the Chief of Staff of the Land Forces in the UPDF.
He was appointed to that position in May 2013, replacing Major General Charles Angina, who was promoted to Lieutenant General and appointed Deputy Chief of Defence Forces of Uganda (DCDF)
In 1994, Leo Kyanda was a driver to Lieutenant General Ivan Koreta, at that time, a Brigadier.
He later joined the then Presidential Guard Brigade (PGB), which today is part of the Special Forces Group (SFG).
He rose in its ranks and eventually became the Commander of the PGB. Following that, he became the Commandant of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI).
From there, he was assigned to the Ugandan Embassy in Washington, DC, as the Military Attaché, serving in that capacity for two years.
On his return to Uganda, he was appointed Chief of Personnel and Administration in the UPDF. From there, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier
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