As an additional measure to strengthen Command and Control of the joint forces, Col Mike Walaka Hyeroba has been appointed the Kampala overall Commander of the Local Defense Unit (LDU).
“We welcome him on board,” said army spokesperson Brig Richard Karemire.
Col. Walaka formerly commanded the UPDF contingent under African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
He commanded a group called United Nations Guard Unit (UNGU) IV and it was supervised by the United Nations.
The announcement comes as President Museveni is just hours away from announcing new measures to curb coronavirus spread.
LDUs have in the past few days come under scrutiny over their rough approach to handling people said to be disobeying coronavirus control guidelines.
The Chief of Defence Forces Gen. David Muhoozi on Monday apologized to some vendors who were harassed during the operations to limit movements.
He also offered support.
“Those with medical complications were offered treatment at the UPDF senior officers diagnostic centre in Mbuya,” UPDF Spokesman Brig. Richard Karemire said in an earlier statement.
The appointment to Col. Mike Walaka was announced by Brig. Karemire.
He says he (Walaka) will help strengthen the joint task force, which is overseeing coronavirus operations.
“As an additional measure to strengthen Command and Control of the joint forces, Col Mike Walaka Hyeroba is appointed the Kampala overall Commander of LDUs,” Brig. Karemire said.
“We welcome him on board.”
Uganda’s National Security Council set up an Inter-Agency Joint Task Force (JTF) at National and Regional levels to support the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Combatting CODIV 19 epidemic in Uganda.
The JTF is led by the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces’ (UPDF) Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Lt Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi.
The JTF comprises of officers from the UPDF, Uganda Police Force (UPF), Uganda Prison Services (UPS), National Joint Intelligence Committee, Immigrations and Customs.
Membership was extended to National Water and Sewerage Corporation, UMEME and KCCA.
At operational level, the JTF is led by the Chief of Staff Land Forces, Maj General Leopold Kyanda and it is stationed at the Police Joint Operation Center in Naguru.
The JTF coordinates direct support from the Agencies to the MOH; E.g. The UPDF and UPF are attaching 240 medical personnel to support the MOH, 40 of who are already deployed at Entebbe Airport and Mulago Hospital.
The JTF further monitors and ensures compliance on the measures issued by the President and Commander-In-Chief and the Ministry of Health on prevention of the spread of Corona Virus.
