Maj Bilal Katamba has been appointed acting deputy defence public information officer of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
He replaces Col Deo Asiimwe Akiiki, who was appointed the military assistant to the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, last week. Akiiki urged the media to offer Katamba the necessary support as he takes on the role alongside his senior, Acting Maj Gen Felix Kulayigye.
Before his new role, Katamba served as the spokesperson for the UPDF Mountain Division and Shujaa Operations against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Since the UPDF launched an offensive against ADF rebels in November 2021, Katamba has been vocal about the military operations, highlighting successful air and infantry assaults against the terrorist group.
ADF, however, has continued to launch deadly attacks on Ugandans, including the massacre of over 50 people, 40 of them students at Mpondwe border point in Kasese District. Maj Katamba previously served as the UPDF contingent spokesperson in Somalia two years ago. Before that, he was the spokesperson for UPDF First Division based at Kakiri, before being replaced by Maj Charles Kabona.
During his tenure in the First Division, he was outspoken about human rights violations committed by the Local Defence Unit (LDU) during the COVID-19 lockdown, where security personnel were involved in fatal shootings and severe beatings of civilians.
He assured the public at the time that LDUs involved in atrocities would face trial in the Unit Disciplinary Court (UDC), and some were subsequently prosecuted.
Katamba’s exposure to military operations, both in Uganda and abroad, is expected to enhance his ability to communicate UPDF activities effectively in his new role as acting deputy army spokesperson.
