{{short description|Ugandan general (born 1970)}} {{Infobox military person | honorific_prefix = Major General | name = Dick Olum | honorific_suffix = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = 2013 09 25 Contingent Commander Handover C.jpg (10453843113).jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1970}}<ref name="About">{{cite web | url=http://www.newsweek.com/hunt-kony-63931 |title=The Hunt for Kony | first=Scott | last=Johnson | date=18 April 2012 | publisher=Newsweek | accessdate=24 June 2014}}</ref> | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | birth_place = Zombo, Uganda | death_place = | burial_place = | burial_label = | burial_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} --> | nickname = | birth_name = Richard Prit Olum | allegiance = {{flag|Uganda}} | branch ={{army|Uganda}} | service_years = 1990–present | rank = Major general | service_number = | unit = | commands = | battles = | battles_label = | awards = }} Major General '''Richard Prit Olum''', commonly known as '''Dick Olum''', is a military officer in the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF). Effective 13 May 2024, he serves as commander of the "South Sudan Stabilization Mechanism", an observer force to ensure adherence to the peace agreements.<ref name="0R">{{cite web| work=Daily Monitor |date=13 May 2024 | url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/museveni-appoints-otto-new-commander-operation-shuuja-4621572 | title=Museveni appoints Otto new commander operation Shuuja |author=Daily Monitor |access-date=13 May 2024 |location=Kampala, Uganda}}</ref> Before that, he served as the Ugandan commander of the UPDF forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo under the joint Uganda/DRC mission code named Operation Shujaa. He simultaneously served as the commander of the UPDF Mountain Division, based in Fort Portal, Kabarole District at the base of the Rwenzori Mountains. His appointment was made on 12 October 2022.<ref name="1R">{{cite web|work=NilePost Uganda | url=https://nilepost.co.ug/2022/10/12/maj-gen-dick-olum-appointed-new-operation-shuja-updf-mountain-division-commander/ | title=Maj Gen Dick Olum appointed new Operation Shuja, UPDF Mountain Division commander |date=12 October 2022 |author=Kenneth Kazibwe |access-date=12 October 2022 |location=Kampala, Uganda}}</ref><ref name="2R">{{cite web| work=Daily Monitor | url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/gen-olum-replaces-kayanja-3983236 |title=Gen Olum replaces Kayanja | date=13 October 2022 |author=Benson Tumusiime |access-date=13 October 2022 |location=Kampala, Uganda}}</ref>
Before that, from October 2017 until October 2022, he was Uganda's military attaché at the Ugandan embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, based in Kinshasa.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Brig-Dick-Olum-DR-Congo-army-reshuffle/688334-4132718-3qnbkp/index.html |title=Brigadier Dick Olum sent to DR Congo in mini army reshuffle |accessdate=23 October 2017 |date=10 October 2017 |newspaper=Daily Monitor | location=Kampala |author=Monitor Reporter}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | work=New Vision |date=10 October 2017 |url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1463323/brig-olum-replaces-deceased-taban-drc |title=Major General Olum replaces deceased Taban in DRC |access-date=23 October 2017 | author=Pascal Kwesiga |location=Kampala, Uganda}}</ref>
Immediately prior to that assignment, from April 2015 until October 2017, he was the commanding officer of the third army division of the UPDF, based in Moroto.<ref name="Third">{{cite web | url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Water-shortage-hinders-UPDF-operations/-/688334/2685924/-/hfubmm/-/index.html | first=Steven | last=Ariong | accessdate=6 May 2015 | title=Water Shortage Hinders UPDF Operations | newspaper=Daily Monitor | location=Kampala | date=15 April 2015}}</ref> Before that, he served as the commander of the UPDF contingent in Somalia as part of the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM). He was appointed to that position in June 2013.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Olum-named-new-Amisom-commander/-/688334/1900126/-/yqe3pyz/-/index.html | title=Olum Named New Amisom Commander| first=and Richard Wanambwa | last=Risdel Kasasira | date=1 July 2013 | publisher=Daily Monitor | accessdate=24 June 2014}}</ref> He took his position in Mogadishu Somalia, in September 2013.<ref>{{cite web | title=Brigadier Dick Olum New UPDF Boss In Somalia | publisher=New Vision | date=25 September 2013 | first=Reporter | last=Newvision | accessdate=24 June 2014 | url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/647647-brig-dick-olum-new-updf-boss-in-somalia.html}}</ref> His mission to Somalia ended in November 2014 when he was replaced by Sam Kavuma.<ref>{{cite web | first=Stephen | last=Kafeero| url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Alshaabab-has-been-decimated-Brig-Dick-Olum/-/688334/2517484/-/9l2empz/-/index.html | title="Alshaabab Has Been Decimated" Says Brigadier Dick Olum | accessdate=6 May 2015 | date=10 November 2014 | newspaper=New Vision |location=Kampala}}</ref>
==Background== Olum was born in Zombo District, West Nile sub-region, Northern Region of Uganda in 1970.<ref name="About"/>
==Military career== [[File:2014 08 30 Operation Indian Ocean-1 (14898167967).jpg|thumb|Olum addresses UPDF soldiers during Operation Indian Ocean (2014).]]
In 2006, when the Uganda Junior Staff College, based in Jinja, was founded, Lieutenant Colonel Olum was selected to be its commandant.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/16/595778 |title=Sh1.3 Billion for Amuka |publisher=New Vision |date=6 November 2007 |accessdate=24 June 2014 |first=James |last=Oloch |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518112045/http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/16/595778 |archivedate=18 May 2015 |df= }}</ref> In 2010, at the rank of colonel, he was transferred to the Uganda Military Academy in Kabamba as chief instructor.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/853984/-/whx3jl/-/index.html | title=Museveni Shakes Up Top Army Command | first=Risdel | last=Kasasira | date=2 February 2010 | accessdate=24 June 2014 | publisher=Daily Monitor}}</ref> In 2012, the African Union (AU) established a 5,000-strong military force, based in Nzara, South Sudan, with the objective of hunting down fugitive warlord Joseph Kony. The force was composed of troops from the African countries affected by the Lord's Resistance Army insurgency, namely Uganda, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic.<ref>{{cite web | title=African Union Force Steps Up Hunt for Joseph Kony |access-date=24 June 2014 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-17498382 | last=BBC | date=24 March 2012 | publisher=BBC News}}</ref> Colonel Olum was selected as the first commander of the AU force against Kony.<ref>{{cite web |work=TheStar.com | url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2012/04/09/kony_2012_a_message_from_commander_hunting_down_the_warlord.html |title=Kony 2012: A Message From Commander Hunting Down The Warlord |date=9 April 2012 |author=Allan Thompson |access-date=24 June 2014}}</ref> In June 2013, he was assigned to lead the UPDF contingent to AMISOM and was appointed acting brigadier. He assumed his post in Somalia in September 2013. In November 2013, Olum was promoted to full brigadier in the UPDF.<ref>{{cite web |date=13 November 2013 |accessdate=24 June 2014 |url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/649398-president-museveni-promotes-693-updf-officers.html |title=Museveni Promotes 693 UPDF Officers |newspaper=New Vision |last=Vision Reporter |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205154741/http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/649398-president-museveni-promotes-693-updf-officers.html |archivedate=5 December 2014 |df= }}</ref><ref name="Key">{{cite web | url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/650349-integrity-is-key-in-the-army-karuhanga.html | title=Integrity Is Key In The Army - Karuhanga | newspaper=New Vision |location=Kampala| date=10 December 2013 | accessdate=24 June 2014 | first=Ayiga | last=Ondoga}}</ref> In April 2015, he was appointed commanding officer of the UPDF third division, based in Moroto.<ref name="Third"/>
As commander of the UPDF Mountain Division and as commander of Operation Shuja, General Olum replaced Lieutenant General Kayanja Muhanga who was promoted to Commander of the UPDF Land Forces, based in Bombo, Uganda.<ref name="1R"/><ref name="2R"/>
==Family== Olum is a married father of two children.<ref name="Key"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Dick Olum}} * [https://archive.today/20140624042107/http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/635357-Anti-LRA-operationColOlum-takes-over-command.html Anti-LRA Operation: Colonel Olum Takes Over Command] * [http://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/views/article_print.php?14969&a=52745&icon=Print Colonel Olum to Head Hunt for Kony]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Olum, Dick}} Category:People from Zombo District Category:Living people Category:Alur people Category:1970 births Category:Ugandan Roman Catholics Category:People from West Nile sub-region Category:Ugandan generals