KAMPALA, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Nineteen senior military officers in Uganda have retired, the biggest batch of top officers to leave the force since the country's President Yoweri Museveni came into power over 30 years ago.
Museveni presided over a colorful sendoff ceremony held late on Monday at State House Entebbe, 40 km south of the capital Kampala.
The officers included a General, four Major Generals and 14 Brigadier Generals.
As a military ritual, Museveni, the Commander in Chief of the armed forces, walked the retiring officers out of the State House to the main gate, ending their long service in the military.
Brigadier Richard Karemire, Uganda's military spokesperson, said in a statement that Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF) salutes and hails the sacrifices of the officers.
"Their years of sacrifice during active military service have not been in vain. Uganda is now very peaceful, we wish them well," Karemire said.
This is the biggest retirement of senior officers above the rank of brigadier general in a single batch since Museveni took power on January 26, 1986 after a five-year guerilla war in the central Ugandan district of Luwero.
The retiring senior army officers have served in different positions and capacities in the military for the past 33 years, according to the UPDF.
