Leopold Eric Kyanda (born 1 January 1970), is a Major General in the

Uganda People's Defence Force The Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF), previously known as the National Resistance Army, is the armed forces of Uganda. From 2007 to 2011, the International Institute for Strategic Studies estimated the UPDF had a total strength of 40,000–4 ...

(UPDF). Effective 24 June 2021, he serves as the Joint Chief of Staff of the UPDF. He replaced

Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the battlefield, who was norma ...

Joseph Musanyufu who was redeployed to the civil service. Before that, Kyanda was the

Chief of Staff The title chief of staff (or head of staff) identifies the leader of a complex organization such as the armed forces, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a principal staff officer (PSO), who is the coordinator of the supportin ...

of the Land Forces in the UPDF, replacing Major General

Charles Angina Charles Angina (born 29 March 1962) is a lieutenant general in the Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF). As of August 2021, he is awaiting assignment at the Uganda Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From January 2017 until July 2021, he served as the ...

, who was promoted to

and appointed ''Deputy Chief of Defence Forces of Uganda'' (DCDF). inspector General of Police

Military career

Leo Kyanda was born on 1 January 1970.

Uganda Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the ...

n press reports indicate that in 1994, he was an Aide de Camp to

General A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry. In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...

Ivan Koreta, at that time, a

Brigadier Brigadier ( ) is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore (rank), commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several t ...

and was also his driver in that year. He later joined the then ''Presidential Guard Brigade'' (PGB), which today is part of the ''Special Forces Group'' (SFG). He rose in its ranks and eventually became the Commander of the PGB. Following that, he became the

Commandant Commandant ( or ; ) is a title often given to the officer in charge of a military (or other uniformed service) training establishment or academy. This usage is common in English-speaking nations. In some countries it may be a military or police ...

of the ''Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence'' (CMI). From there, he was assigned to the Ugandan Embassy in

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

, as the

Military Attaché A military attaché or defence attaché (DA),Defence Attachés
''Geneva C ...

, serving in that capacity for two years. On his return to Uganda, he was appointed ''Chief of Personnel and Administration'' in the UPDF. From there, he was promoted to the rank of

brigadier Brigadier ( ) is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore (rank), commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several t ...

and assigned the post of Chief of Staff of Land Forces of Uganda. In December 2017, Kyanda completed a military course from the National Defence College in

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

. In February 2019 he was promoted from the rank of

to that of Major General, as a part of a promotions exercise involving over 2,000 men and women of the UPDF.

Personal life

He is married to Judy Rugasira Kyanda, the country manager for

Knight Frank Knight Frank LLP is a global real estate consultancy and estate agency headquartered in London, England. Knight Frank's global network has more than 488 offices across 57 territories and more than 20,000 people managing commercial, agricultur ...

Uganda Ltd. They have two daughters.

Awards

Pearl of Africa Lifetime Achievement Award (PALITA AWARD)-2015.

References

External links

Colonel Leopold Eric Kyanda Named Professional of the Year In Government Service Media Must Stop Witch-Hunting Colonel Kyanda – By Major Paddy Ankunda; 25 August 2008
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kyanda, Leopold 1970 births Living people Ugandan generals National Defence College, India alumni

Military career

Personal life

Awards

See also

References

External links