Jeje Odongo
Encyclopedia
General
Haji Abubaker Jeje Odongo is a Uganda
n military officer and politician
. He is the current State Minister for Defence in Uganda, a post he has served in since February 2009.
, in the Teso sub-region
, in eastern Uganda. He entered the Ugandan army in 1979. He is one of the original twenty seven (27) combatants who, together with Yoweri Museveni
, attacked Kabamba Military Barracks, in February 1981 to start the National Resistance Army
(NRA) guerrilla war that lasted from February 1981 until April 1986. Jeje Odongo was captured soon after the first NRA
operation and was imprisoned in Luzira Maximum Security Prison.
In 1994, Jeje Odongo is one of the ten army officers who represented the Ugandan military in the Constituent Assembly
that drafted the 1995 Ugandan Constitution
. In 1996, he was selected to replace the late Colonel
Sserwanga Lwanga, as the Political Commissar in the Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF). Also in 1996, he contested the parliamentary seat for Amuria District in the Ugandan Parliament. He won and was appointed Uganda's Defence Minister, soon after he entered parliament.
In 1998, he resigned his parliamentary seat and his cabinet position and was appointed Commander of the Army of Uganda, taking over from Major General Mugisha Muntu
. He served as army commander until 2001, when he was replaced by Major General James Kazini
. In 2001, he was appointed Minister-without-Portfolio, a position he occupied until 2004. In 2004, now at the rank of Lieutenant General
, Jeje Odongo was appointed State Minister for the Environment. Between 2001 and 2006, he was one of 10 senior UPDF officers who represented the Ugandan military in the 8th Ugandan Parliament.
In May 2008, Jeje Odongo graduated with the degree of Master of Arts
in International Relations and Diplomacy from Nkumba University
. On 16 February 2009, he was appointed Minister of State for Defence (and promoted to General
), a position he still serves in today.
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Haji Abubaker Jeje Odongo is a Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n military officer and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He is the current State Minister for Defence in Uganda, a post he has served in since February 2009.
History
Jeje Odongo was born in Amuria DistrictAmuria District
Amuria District is a district in Eastern Uganda. It is named after its 'chief town', Amuria, the location of the district headquarters.-Location:...
, in the Teso sub-region
Teso sub-region
Teso sub-region is a region in Uganda that consists of:* Amuria District* Bukedea District* Kaberamaido District* Katakwi District* Kumi District* Ngora District* Serere District* Soroti District...
, in eastern Uganda. He entered the Ugandan army in 1979. He is one of the original twenty seven (27) combatants who, together with Yoweri Museveni
Yoweri Museveni
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is a Ugandan politician and statesman. He has been President of Uganda since 26 January 1986.Museveni was involved in the war that deposed Idi Amin Dada, ending his rule in 1979, and in the rebellion that subsequently led to the demise of the Milton Obote regime in 1985...
, attacked Kabamba Military Barracks, in February 1981 to start the National Resistance Army
National Resistance Army
The National Resistance Army , the military wing of the National Resistance Movement , was a rebel army that waged a guerrilla war, commonly referred to as the Luwero War or "the war in the bush", against the government of Milton Obote, and later that of Tito Okello.NRA was supported by Muammar...
(NRA) guerrilla war that lasted from February 1981 until April 1986. Jeje Odongo was captured soon after the first NRA
NRA
NRA is an abbreviation that may mean:* National regulatory authorities , government agencies tasked with regulating and supervising sections of public service and economy...
operation and was imprisoned in Luzira Maximum Security Prison.
In 1994, Jeje Odongo is one of the ten army officers who represented the Ugandan military in the Constituent Assembly
Constituent assembly
A constituent assembly is a body composed for the purpose of drafting or adopting a constitution...
that drafted the 1995 Ugandan Constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
. In 1996, he was selected to replace the late Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Sserwanga Lwanga, as the Political Commissar in the Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF). Also in 1996, he contested the parliamentary seat for Amuria District in the Ugandan Parliament. He won and was appointed Uganda's Defence Minister, soon after he entered parliament.
In 1998, he resigned his parliamentary seat and his cabinet position and was appointed Commander of the Army of Uganda, taking over from Major General Mugisha Muntu
Mugisha Muntu
Major General Mugisha Muntuyera, commonly referred to as Mugisha Muntu, is a Ugandan politician and former military officer. He is a member of the Forum for Democratic Change , a Ugandan political party. In 2008, he unsuccessfully contested for the party's presidency, against Kizza Besigye...
. He served as army commander until 2001, when he was replaced by Major General James Kazini
James Kazini
Major General James Kazini was a Ugandan Army officer. Between 2001 and 2003, he served as Commander of the UPDF, a position that is now known as the Chief of Defence Forces of Uganda, the highest military position within the Uganda People's Defense Force.-History:He was born in 1957 in the...
. In 2001, he was appointed Minister-without-Portfolio, a position he occupied until 2004. In 2004, now at the rank of Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
, Jeje Odongo was appointed State Minister for the Environment. Between 2001 and 2006, he was one of 10 senior UPDF officers who represented the Ugandan military in the 8th Ugandan Parliament.
In May 2008, Jeje Odongo graduated with the degree of Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in International Relations and Diplomacy from Nkumba University
Nkumba University
Nkumba University is a private university in Entebbe, Uganda. It was established in 1994 as part of a group of schools and colleges which originally grew from a kindergarten set up in 1951...
. On 16 February 2009, he was appointed Minister of State for Defence (and promoted to General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
), a position he still serves in today.
See also
- Salim SalehSalim SalehGeneral Salim Saleh , is an adviser to the President of Uganda on military matters. Formerly, he was the Ugandan Minister of State for Microfinance. Before that, he was a high ranking military official of UPDF, the armed forces of Uganda. He is a brother of the current President of Uganda, Yoweri...
- Elly TumwineElly TumwineGeneral Elly Tumwine , is a Ugandan professional artist, educator and military officer. He is a former Commander of the Army in Uganda, the highest military position in the country at that time...
- Mugisha MuntuMugisha MuntuMajor General Mugisha Muntuyera, commonly referred to as Mugisha Muntu, is a Ugandan politician and former military officer. He is a member of the Forum for Democratic Change , a Ugandan political party. In 2008, he unsuccessfully contested for the party's presidency, against Kizza Besigye...
- James KaziniJames KaziniMajor General James Kazini was a Ugandan Army officer. Between 2001 and 2003, he served as Commander of the UPDF, a position that is now known as the Chief of Defence Forces of Uganda, the highest military position within the Uganda People's Defense Force.-History:He was born in 1957 in the...
- Aronda NyakairimaAronda NyakairimaGeneral Aronda Nyakairima is a Ugandan Army officer. He is the current Chief of Defense Forces of Uganda, the highest military rank in the Uganda People's Defense Force. He was born in 1959, in Rukungiri District.-Education:...
- Cabinet of UgandaCabinet of UgandaAccording to the Constitution of Uganda, "there shall be a Cabinet which shall consist of the President, the Vice President and such number of Ministers as may appear to the President to be reasonably necessary for the efficient running of the State."...
- Parliament of Uganda
- Amuria DistrictAmuria DistrictAmuria District is a district in Eastern Uganda. It is named after its 'chief town', Amuria, the location of the district headquarters.-Location:...