# Fredrick Mugisha

Major General Fredrick Mugisha, commonly referred to as Fred Mugisha, is a senior military officer in the Uganda People's Defence Force and assumed command over AMISOM as the fourth commander on 15 June 2011.

## Biography

Mugisha was born in 1963 in Western Uganda. In his youth, he joined the National Resistance Army, the armed wing of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) rebel movement which took part in the Ugandan Bush War. He rose to become an officer in the NRA's Mobile Brigade, serving under Salim Saleh. In 1985, Mugisha fought in the Battle of Kembogo. In early 1986, he was one of the officers who planned the NRA's assault on the Ugandan capital Kampala. In the Battle of Kampala of 17–26 January 1986, Mugisha initially led the frontline NRA troops after his superior Pecos Kutesa allegedly fell ill. As the rebels advanced deeper into the city, he continued to fight alongside his troops, reportedly displaying considerable bravery under fire.
After the NRM/NRA's victory in the Ugandan Bush War, Mugisha continued to serve in the new Ugandan national military. From 1987 to May 1988, he served as Communications Officer of a Battalion at the rank of APC. He attended the Officer Cadet Course at Simferopol Academy in the former Soviet Union, from 1988 to 1989. From 1990 to 1995, Mugisha served as Security and Combat Intelligence Officer at the rank of lieutenant. From 1995 to 1997, he served as Second in Command of Artillery and Air Defense at the rank of captain. He then attended the Convoy Commander Course at Monduli Military Academy in Tanzania, in 1997. From 1997 to 1998, Mugisha was the Intelligence and Security Officer of an Army Division at the rank of major. From 1999 to 2000, he was the Division Intelligence and Security Officer at the rank of major. In 2000, he attended the Platoon Commander Course at the Sierra Vista Military Academy in Arizona, United States of America.
From 2000 to 2001, Mugisha served as Director Combat Intelligence and Security at the rank of major. From March 2001 to December 2001, he was Deputy Chief of Military Intelligence and Security at the rank of lieutenant colonel. From 2002 to 2004, he was Division Operations and Training Officer at an artillery division, at the rank of colonel. From 2003 until 2004, he attended the Army High Command Course at Nanjing Army Command College in China. He then attended the Africa Strategic Course at Nasser Military Academy in Egypt, in 2005. The next year, in 2006, he attended the Senior Command and Staff Course at the Army War College at Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, India, in 2006. In 2008, he attended the National Defense College, in South Africa. From 2005 to 2011, he was also the commander of the artillery division, stationed at Masindi, at the rank of brigadier.
He was promoted from brigadier to major general and appointed commander of AMISOM in August 2011. In this role, he was posted to Mogadishu, Somalia. He served in this position until 2012, when he became Joint Chief of Staff of the Uganda People's Defence Forces.
From May 2013, he was replaced as Joint Chief of Staff by Major General Wilson Mbadi and assigned to the position of commandant of the newly established "National Counter Terrorism Center".