Col Charles Barija, one of the UPDF officers heading into retirement has pleased with President Yoweri Museveni to promote him to the Rank of Brigadier, for his decades of service in the armed forces.
Col Barija (ROV 00337) is one of the 618 officers who retired on Thursday from the force at Bombo Land Forces headquarters and other formations and units.
A total of14 General officers were sent off at an event held at State House in Entebbe, while for the rest of the lower ranking officers, the retirement functions were held at their respective service headquarters.
In his speech, Barija, one of the most senior retiring officers at Bombo Land Forces Headquarters, praised the President and Commander in Chief for promoting him up to the rank of Colonel.
He however, asked to be elevated further to the rank of Brig. General in recognition of his service which started right before the National Resistance Army revel group went to the bush in 1981.
Citing the Biblical Mordecai who was promoted to Chief Advisor after saving his King from an assassination attempt, Col Barija said it would prudent for the Commander in Chief not to send off into poverty.
“I kindly request my beloved president whom I have been loyal to, to remember me and reward me with a Rank of Brigadier General so that I don’t use bodaboda while going home,” he said.
Barija revealed at the event, that he joined the army in 1979 from Kakoba Mbarara and trained at Kabamba School of Infantry together with the likes of late Gen James Kazini.
He says he was quickly promoted to the rank of Corporal after he emerged as the best trainee from field craft.
From here he says he was posted in Bugolobi, Kampala under the Command of Lt Col. Bazirio Olala Okello.
One of his first missions he says was to escort Museveni, and recounts at one point “rescuing” the rebel leader together with his wife Janet, and son Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Among the people who participated in the rescue, he says, only three are still living namely; Gen. Salim Saleh, Brigadier Mwesigwa Bitanuzire and himself.
“In 1981 after elections, I went with His Excellency to start the liberation war of 1986 and I have been with him up to now,” he said.
Bariija went on to recount several close-call incidents in which he risked his life for the country including when his group came under attack from Tanzanian soldiers in Kiboga, and in Gobelo where he was attacked by the enemy soldiers that wanted to take his machinegun.
Even after the bush war ended, Barija says he participated in other missions in Northern Uganda, South Sudan and Kisangani in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and that he was even shot and wounded.
To the rest of the soldiers still in service, Barija asked them to “please love and maintain the foundation of respecting one another that we started in 1981.”
“Please don’t forget the people who started this family and respect them because they did a great job that you are enjoying now.”
Source: News Agents.
