Who is Wilson Mbasu Mbadi? Flash Uganda Media looks at his biography, age, wife, family, tribe, relationship with Sophia, Fredrick Mugisha, Peter Elwelu, President Museveni, Major General Joseph Musanyufu, early life and education of the current Chief of Defence Forces of the UPDF in Uganda.
General Wilson Mbasu Mbadi is a senior military officer in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
General Wilson Mbadi currently holds the highest military position in Uganda as Chief of the Defense Forces (CDF).
Early life and Education
General Wilson Mbasu Mbadi was born on 6th June 1962 in Kasese District, Western Uganda. He is married to Sophia and together they have children. General Wilson’s religious background is Christian.
On 15 March 1986, Wilson Mbadi enlisted in the Ugandan military. After finishing a year-long Officer Cadet course at the Royal Military College Sandhurst in the United Kingdom, he was appointed an officer in 1991. He received the highest grade in his class while at Sandhurst.
He participated in the Platoon Commander’s Course in 1992 at Jinja’s Uganda School of Infantry. He attended the Uganda Junior Staff College in 1994 in Jinja.
Mbadi participated in the Mobile International Defence Management Course in 1998, which was held in Lusaka, Zambia. He attended the Company Command Course in Tanzania in 1998 as well.
In 2001, he attended the Battle Group Command Course at the Armored Corps Center and School, in Ahmadnagar, India, and performed well.
He did the Senior Command and Staff Course in 2004 at the National Defense College in Kenya (NDCK). Wilson Mbadi finished the PSTC (Peace Support Operations Course) in 2004 in Karen, Kenya.
At the University of Nairobi, he successfully finished a Diploma programme in Strategic Studies in 2005. At Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, the United States of America, he earned a master’s degree in strategic studies in 2007.
Career and Professional Work Experience
General Wilson Mbasu Mbadi worked as a Junior Non-Commissioned Instructor at the Kabamba and Kaweweta Recruit Training Schools from 1987 to 1989. He oversaw career planning as officer in charge in 1991.
Thereafter, from 1997 to 1998, he held the position of Director of Supply, Armoured Brigade Logistics Officer in 1999, and Brigade Administrative Officer in 2000.
Before becoming the Operations and Training Officer for the 503 Infantry Brigade in 2001 and 2002, he worked as the Directing Staff at the Uganda Junior Staff College in Jinja in 2001.
General Wilson Mbadi held the position of Operations and Training Officer for the Armoured Brigade between 2002 and 2003 before temporarily taking over command of the Armoured Brigade.
Before becoming the Chief Air Staff Officer (Personnel and Administration) at Uganda Peoples Defence Air Force HQs in 2006, he assumed full command of the 507 Brigade in 2005.
He was appointed as the President of Uganda’s Aide-de-Camp (ADC) in 2007, and he held that position until December 2012, when he was named Commander of the UPDF’s fourth Infantry Division, stationed in Gulu. He was named Joint Chief of Staff of the UPDF in May 2013.
General Mbadi held the role of Joint Chief of Staff of the UPDF from May 2013 to January 2017 succeeding Fredrick Mugisha. He was later succeeded by Major General Joseph Musanyufu when he was appointed by President Museveni as the Deputy Chief of Defense Forces.
He held the position of Deputy Chief of Defense Forces from January 2017 until June 2021 while holding the rank of Lieutenant General.
He took Lieutenant General Charles Angina’s place, who was promoted to Deputy Commander of Operation Wealth Creation. Peter Elwelu then succeeded him after he was appointed Chief of Defence Forces.
On 24th June 2021, President Museveni promoted Lt. Gen Wilson Mbadi from the rank of Lieutenant General to General and appointed him as the new Chief of Defence Forces of the UPDF taking General David Muhoozi‘s place, who had been appointed as the Minister of State for Internal Affairs.
Achievements and Awards
In addition to serving as Inspector General of the UPDF and Chairman of the UPDF Dress and Medals Committees, Lieutenant General Wilson Mbadi is also a member of the Kyoga Dynamics Board of Directors, the Senior Command and Staff College Control Board, the Uganda National Defence College Steering Committee, the MoDVA Projects Preparation Committee, and the Senior Command and Staff College Control Board.
Additionally, Gen. Mbadi was on the board of trustees of the Standard Gauge Railway from 2015 to 2018. He was also a member of the National Enterprise Corporation Limited’s Board of Directors and the Chairman of the Uganda Military Engineering College from 2013 to 2016.
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