Maj. Gen Paul Lokech the Outgoing Chief of Staff of the UPDF Air Force has officially handed over office to his successor Brig. Charles Okidi, warning him to be very careful with accountability.
Gen. Lokech was recently deployed to South Sudan as a military attaché.
During the handover ceremony, he explained that UPDF has limited resources that need to be handled with extra care, adding that serving as Chief of Staff of the UPDF Air Force requires extra commitment and sacrifice in order to fulfill the Commander In Chief's expectations.
The Deputy UPDF Spokesperson, Lt Col Deo Akiiki noted that Lt Gen Charles Lutaaya, who presided over the hand over ceremony extolled Lokech's distinguished service during his tenure as UPDF Chief of Staff.
"It's a well-deserved appointment given the vast experience in command and operating in hostile environments in Uganda and outside Uganda especially Somalia where there is now some degree of sanity," he reportedly said.
Gen.Lutaaya congratulated the new Chief of Staff Brig Okidi for the promotion and appointment well-deserved. "Let us work as a team in order to promote and fulfill the mission and vision of Air Forces as mandated by the constitution of the Republic of Uganda."
Also, Lt. Gen Joseph Musanyufu the UPDF joint Chief of Staff, congratulated both men on the new assignments entrusted to them by the president, Gen. Kaguta Yoweri Museveni.
Inhis accepance step, Brig Okidi praised Lt Gen Lutaaya for mentoring him, which enabled him to be the best suited candidate for the office of Chief of Staff.