Dick Olum

Major General Richard Prit Olum, commonly known as Dick Olum, is a military officer in the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF), who serves as the Ugandan commander of the UPDF forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo under the joint Uganda/DRC mission code named Operation Shujaa. He also serves as the commander of the UPDF Mountain Division, based in Fort Portal, Kabarole District at the base of the Rwenzori Mountains. His appointment was made on 12 October 2022.[2][3]

Major General

Dick Olum
Birth nameRichard Prit Olum
Born1970 (age 52–53)[1]
Zombo, Uganda
Allegiance Uganda
Service/branch Ugandan Land Forces
Years of service1990–present
RankMajor General

Before that, from October 2017 until October 2022, he was Uganda's military attache at the Ugandan embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, based in Kinshasa.[4][5]

Immediately prior to that assignment, from April 2015 until October 2017, he was the commanding officer of the third army division of the UPDF, based in Moroto.[6] Before that, he served as the commander of the UPDF contingent in Somalia as part of the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM). He was appointed to that position in June 2013 by Yoweri Museveni, the commander in chief of the UPDF and the president of Uganda.[7] He took his position in Mogadishu Somalia, in September 2013.[8] His mission to Somalia ended in November 2014 when he was replaced by Sam Kavuma.[9]

Background

Olum was born in Zombo District, West Nile sub-region, Northern Region of Uganda in 1970.[1]

Military career
Olum addresses UPDF soldiers during Operation Indian Ocean (2014)

In 2006, when the Uganda Junior Staff College, based in Jinja, was founded, Lieutenant Colonel Olum was selected to be its commandant.[10] In 2010, at the rank of colonel, he was transferred to the Uganda Military Academy in Kabamba as chief instructor.[11] In 2012, the African Union (AU) established a 5,000 strong military force, based in Nzara, South Sudan, with the objective of hunting down fugitive warlord Joseph Kony. The force was composed of troops from the African countries affected by the Lord's Resistance Army insurgency, namely Uganda, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic.[12] Colonel Olum was selected as the first commander of the AU force against Kony.[13] In June 2013, he was assigned to lead the UPDF contingent to AMISOM and was appointed acting brigadier. He assumed his post in Somalia in September 2013. In November 2013, Olum was promoted to full Brigadier in the UPDF.[14][15] In April 2015, he was appointed commanding officer of the UPDF third division, based in Moroto.[6]

As commander of the UPDF Mountain Division and as commander of Operation Shuja, General Olum replaced Lieutenant General Kayanja Muhanga who was promoted to the position of Commander of the UPDF Land Forces, based in Bombo, Uganda.[2][3]

Family

Olum is married father of two children.[15]

See also

References
  1. Johnson, Scott (18 April 2012). "The Hunt for Kony". Newsweek. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  2. Kenneth Kazibwe (12 October 2022). "Maj Gen Dick Olum appointed new Operation Shuja, UPDF Mountain Division commander". NilePost Uganda. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  3. Benson Tumusiime (13 October 2022). "Gen Olum replaces Kayanja". Daily Monitor. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  4. Monitor Reporter (10 October 2017). "Brigadier Dick Olum sent to DR Congo in mini army reshuffle". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  5. Pascal Kwesiga (10 October 2017). "Major General Olum replaces deceased Taban in DRC". New Vision. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  6. Ariong, Steven (15 April 2015). "Water Shortage Hinders UPDF Operations". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  7. Risdel Kasasira, and Richard Wanambwa (1 July 2013). "Olum Named New Amisom Commander". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  8. Newvision, Reporter (25 September 2013). "Brigadier Dick Olum New UPDF Boss In Somalia". New Vision. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  9. Kafeero, Stephen (10 November 2014). ""Alshaabab Has Been Decimated" Says Brigadier Dick Olum". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  10. Oloch, James (6 November 2007). "Sh1.3 Billion for Amuka". New Vision. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  11. Kasasira, Risdel (2 February 2010). "Museveni Shakes Up Top Army Command". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  12. BBC (24 March 2012). "African Union Force Steps Up Hunt for Joseph Kony". BBC News. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  13. Allan Thompson (9 April 2012). "Kony 2012: A Message From Commander Hunting Down The Warlord". TheStar.com. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  14. Vision Reporter (13 November 2013). "Museveni Promotes 693 UPDF Officers". New Vision. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  15. Ondoga, Ayiga (10 December 2013). "Integrity Is Key In The Army - Karuhanga". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
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