Col. Deo Akiiki appointed military assistant to Gen. Muhoozi

Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has appointed Col. Deo Akiiki as his Military Assistant, marking a new chapter in Akiiki’s military career.

Akiiki, who previously served as the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) deputy spokesperson, confirmed the appointment in a statement on Friday, expressing gratitude for the trust placed in him.

“I take this honor to officially announce that I have been appointed by the Chief of Defence Forces and Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, as his Military Assistant. It is a statement of honor and trust that I am going to serve at the helm of the leadership,” he said.

With over 20 years in military public relations, Akiiki acknowledged the media’s role in shaping his career, thanking journalists for their cooperation. He highlighted his experience as a public information officer during key military operations, including the Lord’s Resistance Army conflict in northern Uganda, the UPDF mission in Somalia, and Operation Lightning Thunder in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Beyond his communication roles, Akiiki brings extensive international experience to his new position. In 2012, he participated in the U.S. Human Rights Foreign Policy program in Washington, D.C.

He later served as the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Public Information Officer in Mogadishu in 2014 and was appointed Director of Strategic Communication at the Ministry of Defence in 2015.

His academic credentials include studies at the European Center for Security Studies in Germany and strategic security training at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., from 2016 to 2017. He was named deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs in 2017, a role he held for seven years.

Akiiki’s appointment signals a new phase in his service within Uganda’s military leadership, as he takes on a strategic role alongside Gen. Muhoozi.