12/09/2015
Aronda Nyakairima
General Aronda Nyakairima (born 7 July
1959) is a Ugandan army officer who has
served in the Cabinet of Uganda as Minister
of Internal Affairs since 2013. Previously
he was Chief of Defense Forces, the highest
military rank in the Uganda People's
Defense Force , from 2003 to 2013.
Early life and education
Nyakairima was born in Rukungiri District.
He attended Kitgum High School in Kitgum
District . He joined Makerere University in
1978, graduating in 1981, with the degree
of Bachelor of Arts in political science . He
attended the Basic Officers Course in 1989,
after the NRA had captured power in
Kampala, Uganda's capital city. He later
attended a course in Strategic Studies at
Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, USA. He also
has further military qualifications from the
Egyptian Military Academy in Cairo . [1]
Military career
He joined the National Resistance Army in
1982, soon after leaving Makerere. After
the NRA captured power, he worked as an
intelligence officer in the Ugandan
military. He later was appointed Assistant
Director in the Directorate of Military
Intelligence in the Uganda People's Defense
Force (UPDF). He was then transferred to
the Presidential Protection Unit as an
Intelligence Officer. From there, he served
as the Commanding Officer of the Armored
Brigade before his appointment as
Commander of the UPDF in 2003. He has
represented the UPDF in the Ugandan
Parliament since 1996. [2]
In October 2010, General Nyakairima was
inducted into the International Hall of
Fame at the Lewis and Clark Centre at Fort
Leavenworth , Kansas , United States of
America, for attaining the highest position
in the military of his country. Nyakairima,
a 1993 graduate of Fort Leavenworth, was
inducted together with General Eui Don
Wang of South Korea, a 1986 graduate of
the command college, and Major General
Richard Rhys Jones of New Zealand , a 1992
graduate. [3] Nyakairmina was appointed to
the cabinet as Minister of Internal Affairs
on 23 May 2013. [4] General Katumba
Wamala was appointed to replace him as
Chief of Defence Forces on the same day.
[5]
Personal details
General Aronda Nyakairima is married. He
does not drink or smoke. He is fluent in
multiple languages including Luganda,
English , Luo , Runyakitara, and Swahili .
