Why army delayed to retire top generals

The army has said it was the decision of its Commissions and Promotions Board to delay the retirement of some Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) generals who were supposed to retire on Monday with 19 others.
According to the new retirement system, which started in 2017, each officer knows when to retire and it had showed that Lt Gen Pecos Kutesa was supposed to retire last year, while Gen Ivan Koreta and Security Minister, Gen Elly Tumwine, would leave this year. The system, which is based on the years of service, age and the rank of an officer, gives the specific year when every officer would retire.

The three generals, who represent the army in Parliament, still have their parliamentary term running until 2021 when the army will vote for the new representatives. Maj Gen Wasswa Mutesasira Balikalege was also among the officers set to retire on Monday.
The UPDF spokesperson, Brig Richard Karemire, yesterday said the retirement of the officers is determined by the UPDF Commissions and Promotions Board based on the prevailing circumstances.

“The combination of dynamism and the fact that circumstances change, our Commissions and Promotions Board can decide otherwise,” he said when asked why some of the officers have not retired
For the last three years, UPDF has carried out massive retirement, with more than 1,000 soldiers retired every year based on the new system.
Most of the generals who retired last year had served the army since the 1960s and early 1970s.

UPDF retirement timeline
2018
Maj Gen Ali Kiiza-
Maj Gen John Mateeka
Maj Gen Kasirye Gwanga
Maj Gen James Ssebagala
Maj Gen Joshua Masaaba
Maj Gen Hussein Adda
Brig Jacob Mussajjawaza
Brig Yowasi Kiiza
Brig Stephen Othieno
Brig Mark Kodil
Brig Olanya Ojara

Retired in 2019
Gen Joram Mugume
Lt Gen Pecos Kutesa-not yet
Maj Gen Sam Turyagyenda
Maj Gen Nathan Mugisha
Maj Gen Jim Willis Byarugaba
Maj Gen Timothy Mutebile
Brig David Kaboyo
Brig Dr Keneth Ocen
Brig Gyagenda Kibirango
Brig Mathias Ssewankambo
Brig John Mary Kaganda
Brig John M Tumwebaze
Brig Charles Anywar
Brig Wacha Angulo
Brig Emmanuel Musinguzi
Brig Sam Kakuru
Brig Francis Ongom
Brig Adolf Sserwada
Brig Ramadan Kyamulesire
Brig John Mulindwa
Gen Elly Tumwine- not yet
Gen Ivan Koreta-not yet
Maj Gen Waswa Balikalege- not yet

2020
Gen Kale Kayihura
Lt Gen Jim Owoyesigire
Maj Gen Silver Kayemba
Maj Gen Joram Kakari
2021
Lt Gen Andrew Gutti
Lt Gen Proscovia Nalweyiso
Maj Gen Steven Kashaka
Lt Gen Nakibus Lakara
Maj Gen Sam Kavuma

2023
Lt Gen Wilson Mbadi
Lt Gen James Mugira
Brig Lucky Kidega

2024
Lt Gen Peter Elwelu
Lt Gen Charles Lutaya.
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