Maj. Gen. Keith Katungyi Earns Praise for Ensuring Total Peace During 2026 General Elections in Lira City

Maj. Gen. Keith Katungyi Earns Praise for Ensuring Total Peace During 2026 General Elections in Lira City.

By Okidi Patrick

LIRA CITY, UGANDA – January 18, 2026: Maj. Gen. Keith Katungyi, Commander of the 5th Infantry Division of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), has been widely praised for his instrumental role in maintaining total peace and security during the recently concluded presidential and parliamentary elections across Lira City and the wider Acholi and Lango sub-regions.

The commendations followed an inter-agency security press briefing held on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at Gracious Palace Hotel in Lira City, where top security officials reassured the public of a safe and violence-free electoral process. The elections, held on January 15, 2026, passed without major incidents—a feat attributed to proactive security measures spearheaded by Maj. Gen. Katungyi.

During the briefing, Maj. Gen. Katungyi affirmed the UPDF’s commitment to safeguarding the peaceful process, assuring journalists of a peaceful environment ahead of the polls. He was accampanied by other key security officers, including North Kyoga Regional Police Commander (RPC) ACP Mganzi Wesley, North Kyoga Regional Prisons Commander Komakech Godfrey, Regional Internal Security Officer (RISO), PRO North Kyoga Region SP Jimmy Patrick Okema, and 5th Infantry Public Information Officer (PIO) Capt. Ibrahim Kasule Sekitto.

Residents from the Lango and Acholi Sub-Regions and surrounding areas have since expressed gratitude for the visible and disciplined presence of UPDF forces, which played a critical role in deterring violence and ensuring free, fair, and orderly elections.

Adong Doky of Anai Ober, a local resident, lauded the general’s swift deployment of troops, stating, “Thanks to Maj. Gen. Keith Katungyi, we did not witness any chaos during the elections. The UPDF were strategically positioned in time, and that made all the difference.”

Similarly, Akello Doreen, a 52-year-old trader at Lira Main Market, described the 5th Division Commander as a true patriot and exemplar of discipline. “Maj. Gen. Keith is a real soldier of the people. He has worked tirelessly to protect the wanahinchi—the ordinary citizens. His dedication to peace shows true leadership,” she told Tayari News Uganda.

Across Northern Uganda—particularly in Abim, Lango, and East Acholi sub-regions—the 5th Infantry Division under Maj. Gen. Katungyi’s command executed a comprehensive security operation. UPDF personnel were visibly deployed at polling stations, major road junctions, and sensitive political hotspots, contributing to an election day marked by calm and order.

Beyond election security, Maj. Gen. Katungyi has also been actively involved in community engagement initiatives. He recently participated in citywide clean-up exercises in Lira and surrounding areas, further strengthening civil-military relations and projecting a positive image of the UPDF as a service-oriented institution.

Additionally, preparations are already underway for the upcoming Tereha Sita celebrations slated for the Kigezi region, where security coordination between military and civilian agencies is expected to mirror the success seen in Lira city clean up exercise.

Maj. Gen. Katungyi’s leadership during the 2026 elections has not only reinforced public confidence in the security organs but has also set a benchmark for election-related peacekeeping in volatile regions. His proactive, transparent, and community-inclusive approach has earned him widespread trust among the ‘wanahinchi’ of Northern Uganda.

As the nation reflects on a peaceful electoral process, Maj. Gen. Keith Katungyi stands out as a symbol of disciplined leadership and unwavering commitment to national stability.