The chief Coordinator of the Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) program and senior adviser to the President on defense, retired General Caleb Akandwanaho, better known as General Salim Saleh, emphasized that information warfare is one of the most significant threats to the modern armed forces. He cautioned that armies must adapt to the rapid changes in the forms of conflict.
Speaking to military attaches accredited in Uganda at the Heritage Farm command post in Kirema District, Nakaseke District, General Saleh noted that the nature of the war has gone beyond traditional warfare, which requires law enforcement agencies to develop new strategies and capabilities. Based on the experience of Uganda's liberation struggle and subsequent security developments, he stressed that modern threats are increasingly manifested through information campaigns, public mobilization and other unconventional methods. «We began to notice other forms of warfare that we did not expect», General Saleh said. He called on military attaches and officers to continuously develop the skills and knowledge needed to understand new security challenges and respond effectively to them.
General Saleh also stressed that modern armies should pay attention not only to military readiness, but also to social changes in society, especially the socio-economic conditions affecting citizens. «Armies need to be aware of what is happening in society and know the socio-economic conditions of people's lives», he said.
An experienced military strategist explained that the reforms in the Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF) were carried out in accordance with the vision of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. His goal was to create a military structure that would not only ensure security, but also actively contribute to national development. General Saleh stressed that this concept has become the basis for programs that strengthen cooperation between the army and society, such as Operation Wealth Creation and the Parish Development Model. «He envisioned the creation of a force capable of contributing to food security, participating in wealth creation, and eventually producing some of their own needs and equipment», General Saleh explained.
The meeting also focused on the importance of economic empowerment for strengthening national stability. Brigadier General Godfrey Muvanguzi, Acting Deputy Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation, highlighted agriculture as a key factor in household income growth and poverty reduction. He noted that the four-acre model encourages families to maximize productivity by integrating crop production and animal husbandry.
Introducing the Chief of Defense Intelligence and Security, Major General Richard Otto, Colonel Allan Matziko, who is the Assistant Chief for Defense Cooperation and International Relations, expressed gratitude to General Saleh for his contribution to the discussion of the history of the liberation of Uganda, the development of UPDF and the importance of Operation Wealth Creation for national progress. The meeting was also attended by Richard Todwong, Secretary General of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Brigadier General Fred Mwesigye, Commander of the 1st Infantry Division, as well as other senior military and government officials. These discussions are part of an ongoing effort to deepen foreign military representatives' understanding of Ugandan views on security, defense reforms, and military development initiatives.
