Army warns public on wearing military attire
Artistes Ragga Dee (L) and DJ Michael at a show recently. The army says people who want to use military attire should ask for permission. Photo by Michael kakumirizi
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In response, reggae musician, Moses Ssali a.k.a Bebe Cool said his colleagues should follow the directive and stop using military attires.
Kampala- The UPDF has warned civilians against dressing in military attire, saying it undermines the law governing the military dress code and could aid terrorism.
“The UPDF has learned with concern the increasing illegal use of military attire by members of the public, especially musicians and other artists. This act has several security implications and undermines the laws governing use of military attire,” the army spokesperson, Lt Col Paddy Ankunda, said last Thursday.
The army said the directive was issued following “heightened terror threats, coupled with increasing uniformed criminals and impersonators”.
In response, reggae musician, Moses Ssali a.k.a Bebe Cool said his colleagues should follow the directive and stop using military attires.
“Laws governing the military attire should be respected. I have no problem with the army directive,” he said.
Many musicians usually dress in military attire at live musical shows and videos.
Violation of this provision attracts, on conviction, an imprisonment term, not exceeding seven years.
“In the interest of National Security... the public is hereby cautioned to desist from such attires and in the case of second hand clothes dealers, to declare and handover such attire to security agencies immediately discovered in their stocks,” Col Ankunda said.
He, however, said whereas section 164 (2) of the 2005 UPDF Act 7 permits artists to use the same for Bona fide stage, film or television production, it can only be done with proper authorisation from the army and handed back to its stores after the performance.
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