| Field marshal | |
|---|---|
 Amin as field marshal, October 1975 | |
| Country |  Uganda (Second Republic) |
| Service branch | Uganda Army |
| Rank group | General officer |
| Rank | Field marshal |
| Formation | 17 July 1975 |
| Abolished | 3 June 1979 |
| 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] [ unreliable fringe source? ]
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Field marshal is the most senior military rank, senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army, and as such, few persons are ever 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 Afghanistan, 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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