| Field marshal | |
|---|---|
 Idi Amin as field marshal, October 1975 | |
| Country |  Uganda |
| Service branch |  Uganda People's Defence Force |
| Rank group | General officer |
| Rank | Field marshal |
| Non-NATO rank | Five-star rank |
| Formation | 17 July 1975 |
| Next lower rank | General |
Field marshal was the highest rank in the military of Uganda, during the regime of Idi Amin.
On 17 July 1975, Idi Amin, President of Uganda and the commander-in-chief of the country's military at the time, the Uganda Army (UA), awarded himself the rank of field marshal. [1] [2] Officially, the rank was given to Amin by the Defence Council (which he himself chaired). Amin was then decorated with the rank insignia by Maj. Gen. Mustafa Adrisi at a function held at the State House in the capital, Entebbe. [2]
Presently, the highest ranking individual in the current Ugandan military, the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) is President Yoweri Museveni, who uses the rank of general. [3] In 2021, there were calls by Defence Minister Charles Engola to promote Museveni to the rank of field marshal as well. [4] The UPDF announced that Museveni will be awarded the rank in the next promotions. [5]
The Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF), previously known as the National Resistance Army, is the armed forces of Uganda. From 2007 to 2011, the International Institute for Strategic Studies estimated the UPDF had a total strength of 40,000–45,000 and consisted of land forces and an air wing. Recruitment to the forces is done annually.
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Field marshal is the most senior military rank, ordinarily senior to the general officer ranks. Usually it is the highest rank in an army and as such few persons are appointed to it. It is considered as a five-star rank (OF-10) in modern-day armed forces in many countries. Promotion to the rank of field marshal in many countries historically required extraordinary military achievement by a general. However, the rank has also been used as a divisional command rank and also as a brigade command rank. Examples of the different uses of the rank include Austria-Hungary, Pakistan, Prussia/Germany, India and Sri Lanka for an extraordinary achievement; Spain and Mexico for a divisional command ; and France, Portugal and Brazil for a brigade command.
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