Background
Francis Nyangweso was born in 1943, Uganda.
Francis Nyangweso was born in 1943, Uganda.
He was educated at Nyamilango College, one of the leading Roman Catholic schools. While still at school he was a member of the Uganda National Boxing team and represented Uganda in the 1960 Olympics and the Perth Commonwealth Games.
He spent several years as a clerk at the Standard Bank before joining the army. Quickly commissioned, he became Commandant of the School of Infantry at Jinja. After the Uganda coup in January 1971 he became acting Brigade Commander of the 1st Infantry Brigade at Masaka and was appointed Acting Army Commander in June 1972.
On July 20, 1972, he was promoted colonel, in May 1973 brigadier and on June 20, 1973 major general.
A highly competent professional soldier, unlike many of the other top Uganda military hierarchy who come from the West Nile, he is an Easterner, and in that sense an outsider, who can be relied upon to be impartial when tribal feuding occurs within the army ranks. Though the post of Acting Army Commander has previously rotated among the top officers, he has held the post since his first appointment in June 1972.