Colonel Deo Akiiki, previously the Deputy Defence Public Information Officer, has been appointed as the Military Assistant to General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Senior Presidential Adviser on Special Operations. Col Akiiki announced his new role on Friday, February 28, 2025, expressing gratitude to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) leadership for their trust.
With over two decades in military public relations, Col Akiiki has significantly shaped the UPDF’s communication strategy. Since 2004, he has collaborated closely with the media, covering major military operations such as the campaign against the Lord’s Resistance Army in northern Uganda, the Karamoja disarmament program, UPDF missions in Somalia, and Operation Lightning Thunder in the Democratic Republic of Congo. For the past seven years, he has served as the deputy spokesperson of the UPDF, engaging with both local and international media on security matters.
In his new position, Col Akiiki will provide strategic advice on defense matters and special operations, coordinate between the CDF, military units, and government agencies, and assist in planning and executing key military strategies. His extensive background in military communications suggests a continued emphasis on defense media relations and strategic messaging within the UPDF.
This appointment also leaves the role of Deputy Defence Public Information Officer vacant, indicating potential forthcoming changes within the UPDF’s public relations structure.
