General Caleb Akandwanaho aka General Salim Saleh was born on 14th January 1960 in Mbarara District, Uganda. He is a retired Ugandan military officer who served in the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF), Uganda's armed forces. He is a brother to Yoweri Museveni, and an adviser to the President on military matters. He served as Minister of State for microfinance from 2006 to 2008.Saleh served as a member of Parliament representing the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) in the seventh Parliament of Uganda. He currently serves as a Senior Presidential Advisor on Defense (SPAD), the Chief Coordinator Operation Wealth Creation (CCOWC), a member of the Presidential Awards Committee, and the Chief Adviser for Karamoja Peace and Technology University (KAPATU) among other roles.
In 2003, Saleh played a key role in peacebuilding efforts in Northern Uganda, particularly in the context of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency. As part of the Presidential Peace Team, he worked on initiatives aimed at encouraging defections among LRA fighters. At a cleansing ceremony for former abductees in Gulu, Saleh publicly expressed emotional distress at the suffering endured by child captives. He also advocated for greater involvement of traditional leaders in the peace process and called for government support to empower their role in conflict resolution.
In April 2025, Saleh was recognised by President Yoweri Museveni during Peace Day celebrations in Yumbe District for his role in securing peace in the West Nile sub-region. The event marked the 23rd anniversary of the 24 December 2002, peace agreement between the Government of Uganda and the Uganda National Rescue Front II (UNRF II), which ended decades of conflict in the area. Saleh, along with other former rebel leaders, was acknowledged for contributions to the peace process and post-conflict stability in West Nile.
In March 2013, Kigumba Cooperative College in Kiryandongo District awarded Saleh an honorary diploma in cooperatives and business administration for his involvement in the promotion of cooperative unions in Uganda. The recognition was given during the institution's 22nd graduation ceremony, where speakers highlighted his previous work with savings and credit cooperative organisations, including during his time as Minister of State for Microfinance. In his address, Saleh discussed the role of cooperatives in local development and efforts to reduce rural-to-urban migration.
Early Childhood and Family Background General Salim Saleh was born Caleb Akandwanaho on 14 January 1960, in Ibare, Rushenyi County, Ntungamo District, Uganda. He is the son of Mzee Amos Kaguta and Esteeri Kokundeka. Saleh's birth was considered a miracle in his family, as his mother conceived after a nine-year period of childlessness at the age of 42. The name "Akandwanaho," meaning "God is my defender" in Runyankore, was given to him by his mother, while his baptismal name, Caleb, was given by his godparents. His father also gave him the name "Jerwanira," meaning "boldness."
Saleh was the fourth child in the family, with his older siblings including Yoweri Tibuhabirwa Museveni, who later became the President of Uganda, and Violet Kajubiri Froelich. The family experienced hardships, including the death of a younger brother shortly after birth and challenges due to livestock diseases affecting their cattle in Kashari, where they had relocated from Ntungamo.
His early years were marked by modest living conditions and family resilience in the face of adversity. Saleh's upbringing was influenced by strong family bonds and cultural traditions, with his mother Esteeri noted for her exceptional care and attitude, which earned respect in the family and community.
During this period, Saleh's family relocated from Ntungamo to Kashari in Mbarara District, although his mother was less pleased with the new environment due to drought conditions. Despite these challenges, the family maintained their determination, which later shaped Saleh's character and future role in Uganda's military and political history. He is a member of the Anglican Church of Uganda.
Education General Salim Saleh began his formal education at the age of 5 at Rwankanja Primary School in Kashari, an institution founded by the Church of Uganda. Following his family's relocation to Rwakitura in 1968, he continued his primary education at Rushere Primary School in 1969. He later attended Mbarara Junior School for his primary six studies before transferring to Kako Junior Primary School, where he completed his Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) in 1975.
After excelling in the PLE, Saleh enrolled at Kako Secondary School in 1976 to pursue his Ordinary Level (O Level) education. His sister, Violet Kajubiri, who was a teaching assistant at Makerere University, recommended the school due to its academic reputation. However, his formal schooling was interrupted when encouraged by his brother Yoweri Museveni to join the Ugandan liberation struggle which he joined. His brother Yoweri Museveni recruited Saleh into the armed struggle for Saleh's own security as Museveni had already declared war on the regime of Idi Amin. Museveni was therefore convinced that Saleh's stay in Uganda at the time he had declared war against the sitting regime would be dangerous for Saleh. Saleh underwent military training in Mozambique as part of this effort, which delayed his completion of secondary education.
Years later, having risen to the rank of Major General in the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF), Saleh returned to formal education by enrolling at Ngabo Academy in 1999 to complete his Advanced Level (A Level) studies. Ngabo Academy was a recently established school that provided education and accommodation to orphans of soldiers who had died during the National Resistance Army (NRA) liberation war. Saleh's attendance at Ngabo Academy was notable for his active engagement with students and his role in boosting the morale of the school community. He scored 10 points in the A level examinations with an A in Kiswahili and a C5 in General Paper. He however showed disappointment in the result.
In 2004, Saleh joined the pioneer class of the Senior Command and Staff College in Kimaka, Jinja, a key military training institution in Uganda. The college aimed to develop senior military leadership and linked with institutions such as Makerere University. Saleh graduated in August 2005 after submitting a service paper titled "The Acholi Question: Is It Food When The Fighting Stops or Could Food Security Stop The Fighting?" His academic work was praised for its insight into the relationship between food security and conflict resolution.
Military career
Political and Early Military Career and Exile (1976–1979) Salim Saleh, joined the Ugandan liberation struggle at the age of 16 in 1976. Due to fears for his safety under Idi Amin's regime, his family sent him to Tanzania, where his elder brother, Yoweri Museveni, was organizing a resistance movement. Saleh traveled to Mozambique and underwent military training with Ugandan exiles in Montepuez alongside Ivan Koreta, Bosco Omure and others under the support of the FRELIMO government.
During this period, Saleh formed close ties with fellow fighters such as Fred Rwigyema. He initially served as a liaison officer between the Front for National Salvation (FRONASA) and the Tanzanian military during the anti-Amin war. He later commanded a combat unit known as the "Red Army" during the advance against Amin's forces, although his direct combat involvement was limited due to his young age. The overthrow of Idi Amin in 1979 marked a pivotal moment in his early military career.
Following Amin's defeat, Saleh was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA). Due to political tensions and his affiliation with FRONASA, he was posted to remote locations such as Moroto to reduce his influence. The rigged 1980 elections, which led to Milton Obote's return to power, convinced Saleh and Museveni to continue armed resistance.
The 1981 Kireka Incident and Imprisonment
In 1981, Saleh intervened at a UNLA roadblock in Kireka to rescue his brother Museveni and family members, who were detained under orders for possible assassination. This act led to Saleh's arrest and imprisonment at Mbuya barracks, where he was reportedly severely beaten but resisted his captors. After intervention by loyalists and threats from Museveni, Saleh was released but was later re-arrested following the failed NRA Kabamba attack and detained in Moroto for several months.
With assistance from Major Dora Kutesa and then-Lieutenant Edward Katumba Wamala, Saleh escaped imprisonment and joined the National Resistance Army (NRA) guerrilla forces in the bush, cementing his role in the resistance.
Role in the National Resistance Army (1981–1986) Saleh emerged as a key military leader within the NRA, eventually appointed deputy commander of the First Mobile Force, an elite unit crucial to the guerrilla war. His leadership was prominent during the Luweero Triangle offensive.
On 21 February 1982, Salim Saleh led an attack on a heavily fortified Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) detachment stationed at Bukalabi Primary School in the Luweero Triangle. The government troops had entrenched themselves with trenches and were well-armed, posing a significant challenge to the National Resistance Army (NRA) forces.
Saleh, known for his courage and leadership, had previously escaped unscathed in several encounters and was regarded by his soldiers as an inspiring commander. During this particular battle, however, he was seriously wounded when a bullet fractured his arms and caused heavy bleeding. Despite his injuries, Saleh's leadership and the NRA's determined assault contributed to weakening government forces in the region.
The local population of Bukalabi village and the wider Luweero Triangle provided vital support to the NRA fighters during the conflict, a contribution that Saleh has frequently acknowledged. In 1998, he revisited Bukalabi village with a team including a BBC reporter and researchers, where they met with villagers at the old primary school, which still bore bullet holes from the battle. The visit highlighted both the enduring scars of the war and the complex feelings of the community, some of whom expressed disappointment with the perceived neglect and lack of development in the post-conflict period.
He played significant roles in key NRA operations, including successful assaults on Kakiri, Masindi, and Kabamba, which resulted in the capture of substantial weaponry. Saleh's reputation as a courageous and skilled commander grew, and he became instrumental in the NRA's urban offensive leading to the capture of Kampala in January 1986. Capture of Kampala and Post-War Military Leadership As a senior NRA commander, Saleh was pivotal in planning and executing the capture of Kampala, which culminated in the collapse of President Tito Okello's government and the establishment of Yoweri Museveni’s administration. In the post-war period, Saleh was responsible for overseeing the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) of former combatants, a critical task for national stabilization.
Saleh succeeded Elly Tumwine as Army Commander in 1987, and held the post until 1989. He also contributed to the modernization of the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) and efforts to unify the military following years of conflict.
Reorganisation of the army and the National Resistance Army (1989-1994). On 27 November 1989, Saleh was redeployed from active military service to command the Reserve Forces. He played a significant role in managing the demobilization of the NRA from 100,000 to 60,000 troops in 1994.