By Spy Uganda
Brig. Gen. Flavia Byekwaso, who was recently appointed the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) spokesperson, has Friday August 7, 2020 taken over the office from her predecessor Brig. Gen. Richard Karemire.
Brig. Gen. Karemire officially handed over office to Brig. Gen. Byekwaso during a scientific function that was held at army headquarters in Mbuya.
Shortly after the handover ceremony which was witnessed by a few UPDF officers, Brig. Gen. Byekwaso tweeted thus; “I have today taken over the office of Defence Spokesperson. My brother Brig Gen Richard Karemire is commended for the great work and the UPDF fraternity wishes him well. I look forward to working closely with you for the common good of our country. The struggle continues.”
Brig. Gen. Byekwaso’s Profile
She rose from the rank of Colonel to Brigadier General and became the second highest ranking woman in the UPDF after Lt. Gen. Proscovia Nalweyiso.
Born on December 29, 1971, Brigadier General Byekwaso is the first female Uganda People’s Forces (UPDF) officer to be appointed spokesperson.
She was appointed to speak for the army, replacing Brig Gen. Karemire, who was appointed Defense Liaison Officer (DLO) at the East African Community Secretariat headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
Background:
Born at Nsambwe village in Kyegonza Sub County in the present district of Gomba (formerly Mpigi district) in Central Uganda, Brig. Gen. Byekwaso studied at St. Mathias Kalemba Senior Secondary School for both her O-Level and A-Levels.
She later joined Makerere University where she attained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.
In 1997, Byekwaso was recruited as a cadet officer in the UPDF and attained a Military Course at the School of Military Infantry, Jinja.
In 2007, she went for another military training course at the Junior Staff College, Jinja.
In 2009, she was recommended to study at the Nanjing Military College, China where she attained a Battalion Commanders Course and again in 2011 she attained a Senior Staff Course at the Senior Staff College Kimaka, Jinja.
The following year, 2012, Byekwaso returned to Makerere University where she attained a Master of Public Administration and Management degree.
She is married to Charles Kyasanku, a prominent businessman with a home in Kyengera town along Masaka road.
Kyasanku is a former head teacher of St. Mathias Kalemba SS Nazigo and former LC3 chairperson for Mpigi Town Council.
Byekwaso has served the UPDF in various capacities. Between 2000 and 2004, she served as a protocol officer for the UPDF and in 2006 she was appointed a military assistant.
She later became an administrative officer and director for women affairs.
In 2010, she became a deputy commandant in UPDF and between 2012 and 2013, she served as Principal Logistics Officer before she was elevated to the position of Director of Logistics, where she served between 2014 and 2016.
In the same year, 2016, during the general elections, at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Byekwaso was elected Member of Parliament representing the UPDF in the 10th parliament up to date.
She is a member of the committee on public service and local government. In February 2019 she was among the 2,031 UPDF personnel who were promoted to various ranks.
