By Ronald Nahabwe
Kampala: The Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF), President Yoweri Museveni recently while chairing a meeting of the forces’ council, (the supreme decision-making body of the UPDF) agreed to never promote any retired military officer.
The Military Council comprises of members of the High Command, Directors in Service and Commanding Officers of Brigades and Battalions. These held a meeting to discuss the improvement of the welfare of soldiers as well as the standardization of the UPDF dress code that is gazetted for the exclusive use by officers and their army attires.
In the end, President Museveni alongside other council member officers agreed that any militant who officially retired from UPDF will never be promoted to a new rank unless he is recalled from retirement or has been in reserve forces, that’s when he can be legible to be selected as for promotion.
This matter became cautious for discussion because of late, President Museveni has been promoting retired officers to new ranks from lieutenants to generals when they are not in active service.
The President was also promoting the ‘dead’ who contributed during the liberation war to higher ranks ending up thronging serving UPDF officers in demand for higher pensions.
This was a decision which other military serving officers were not happy with for example the likes of General Saleh, Jim Muhwezi, Kahinda Otafiire, and more others were promoted when they had retired.
High command and Military council agreed that from now and onwards no UPDF officer will jump promoting no matter the exception work or achievement he has attained for UPDF and national pride.
When contacted at his offices in Mbuya, the UPDF Spokesperson Brig.Richard Karemire confirmed the development revealing that the directive had been passed.
‘’its true UPDF will no longer promote retired or dead officers to the new or higher ranks but when commander in chief accepted to only promote some officers especially those who are old and retire them’ ’he said
After the meeting, President instructed the minister of defence and veteran affairs who is the custodian of defence issues to minute the resolutions and pass them to all UPDF commanders for implementation.
President Museveni also lectured members of high command on how to improve the current security situation in the country and more prevailing peace. The Commander-in-Chief’s requested more regular consultations with the Council and the High Command.
He noted that there is a need for UPDF to continue supporting other agencies when called upon, in the fight against criminality.Â
