Museveni signs UPDF amendment bill into law

President Yoweri Museveni has assented to The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (Amendment) Act, 2025.

Under Section 2 of the Act, the Special Force Command (SFC) is now one of the four services of the UPDF, alongside the Land Force, Air Force, Reserve Force, and any other service prescribed by the Defence Council with Parliament’s approval.

Section 4(b) of the Act states that the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces will now also serve as the Inspector General of the Defence Forces, while Section 4(e) creates the office of Commander Special Force Command.

Section 7(1)(e) retains the membership of the High Command as of January 26, 1986, with the condition that members must not engage in active partisan politics.

The High Command is chaired by the president, with other members including the CDF, deputy CDF, defence ministers and permanent secretary, all service commanders, all deputy service commanders, the chief of joint staff, all service chiefs of staff, and all joint staff of the respective branches at the Defence Forces Joint Services Headquarters.

Under Section 89A of the Act, the Pensions Act will no longer apply to UPDF members, who will now have their own pension scheme, with the Permanent Secretary designated as the pensions authority.

Part IV of the Act, beginning with Section 115A, guarantees officers and militants of the UPDF access to healthcare as a legal right.