Aronda Nyakairima

Background

Nyakairima was born in Rukungiri District.

Education

He attended Lubiri Senior Secondary School for his O-Level studies from 1971 until 1974. Between 1975 and 1977, he studied at Kitgum High School in Kitgum District for his A-Level education. He attended the basic officers course in 1989, after the National Rifle Association had captured power in Kampala, Uganda"s capital city.

He later attended a course in strategic studies at Fort Leavenworth in the United States of America.

Career

Previously, he served as the chief of defence forces in the Uganda People"s Defence Force (UPDF) from 2003 to 2013. He joined Makerere University in 1978, graduating in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He also has further military qualifications from the Egyptian Military Academy in Cairo.

He joined the National Resistance Army (National Rifle Association) in 1982, soon after leaving Makerere University.

After the National Rifle Association 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 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.

Nyakairima was inducted together with General Eui Don Wang of South of Korea, a 1986 graduate of the command college, and Major General Richard Rhys Jones of New Zealand, a 1992 graduate.

Nyakairmina was appointed to the cabinet as minister of internal affairs on 23 May 2013. Katumba Wamala was appointed to replace him as chief of defence forces on the same day.

Achievements

• In October 2010, Nyakairima was inducted into the International Hall of Fame at the Lewis and Clark Centre at Fort Leavenworth for attaining the highest position in the military of his country.