Promoted to lieutenant general in 1928, Ueda became commander-in-chief of the Japanese China Garrison Army from March 1929 to the end of December 1930. As commander of the IJA 9th Division from 1930 to 1932. This division was sent into combat during the First Shanghai incident; however, it failed to break the Chinese defenses and Ueda with withdrawn in disgrace and replaced by General Yoshinori Shirakawa's IJA 11th Division. Ueda was subsequently involved in much of the fighting against Chinese forces during the Japanese occupation of Manchuria. He was promoted to the honorific title of Junior Fourth Court Rank.