Thursday November 17, 2016
Maj Gen Lakara replaces the late Maj Gen Julius Facki Oketta who died a week ago after heart failure at Kadic Hospital
President Museveni has appointed Maj Gen James Nakibus Lakara, the former deputy force commander of the African Union Mission in Somalia, as the deputy chief coordinator Operation Wealth Creation.Maj Gen Lakara, who until last month was in charge of the mission support and logistics, replaces the late Maj Gen Julius Facki Oketta who died two weeks ago after heart failure at Kadic Hospital. At the time of his death, Maj Gen Oketta deputised General Salim Saleh, the overall commander.
Since June 2016, Maj Gen Lakara has been the commander of the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Centre, based in Jinja. From April 2015 until June 2016, he served as the deputy force commander of the Amisom and was in charge of logistical support.
From July 2013 until April 2015, he served as the commanding officer of the UPDF 3rd Division, based in Moroto.
Born in 1960 in Karamoja sub-region, Maj Gen Lakara holds a Diploma in International Studies got in 2012 from the Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies at the University of Nairobi.
In the 1990s while at the rank of brigadier, Lakara served as the commanding officer of the UPDF 2nd Division based in Mbarara. Later, he served as the UPDF chief of staff but was relieved of his post and court marshalled on account of "ghost soldiers in the army". Following the dismissal of some of the charges, and acquittal on others, he remained undeployed from 2003 until 2011 when he was admitted to the National Defence College, Kenya for a senior staff strategic course. In April 2015, he was promoted to major general and posted to Somalia with Amisom.