Does UPDF reflect national character of Uganda?

Harold Acemah

What you need to know:

  • Serving all. Unlike the defunct NRA, UPDF is a public institution and a State organ which is funded by the taxpayers of Uganda who come from all districts, tribes and belong to all religions and political parties registered in Uganda.

Saturday Monitor and Saturday Vision of February 9 splashed the ‘breaking news’ on their front page in bold letters. For the Saturday Monitor the headline reads, “Museveni promotes Muhoozi, 67 generals” and for the Saturday Vision the headline reads, “Gen Museveni promotes 2,000 army officers – Fifty three become Generals”.
According to Saturday Monitor, UPDF spokesperson Brig Gen Richard Karemire issued a statement on Friday, February 8, which gave a breakdown of 2,031 senior and junior officers who were promoted by the President of Uganda and commander-in-chief of UPDF.

Of the 2,031 newly promoted officers, two Lieutenant Generals were promoted to full General (Ivan Koreta and Joram Mugume); 10 Major Generals to Lieutenant General, one of whom is Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of the president; 18 Brigadiers to Major Generals and 38 Colonels to Brigadier.

These promotions have raised the total number of full generals in Uganda to 11, eight of whom come from the South Western region of Uganda and only three from the rest of the country. The ethnic and regional composition of the generals has raised a lot of concern and dust among Ugandans while the overall composition of the UPDF has also raised plenty of concern and disquiet among Ugandans of goodwill.

Role of UPDF in Uganda’s body politic
The role and mandate of the UPDF is derived from Chapter 12 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda titled, “Defence and National Security,” in particular Articles 208, 209 and 210 thereof.
According to Article 208 (2), “The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces shall be non-partisan, national in character, patriotic, professional, disciplined, productive and subordinate to the civilian authority as established under this Constitution.”

The functions of the UPDF as per Article 209 are: “to preserve and defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Uganda; to cooperate with the civilian authority in emergency situations and in cases of natural disasters; to foster harmony and understanding between the defence forces and civilians; and to engage in productive activities for the development of Uganda.”

Article 210 (b) authorises Parliament to make laws regarding “recruitment, appointment, promotion, discipline and removal of members of the UPDF and ensuring that members of the UPDF are recruited from every district of Uganda.”
In accordance with Article 210 (b) MPs should, as a matter of urgency, demand publication of the list of all persons who are currently employed and serving in UPDF, ISO and ESO, together with details of their ranks, when they were enlisted and which districts they come from.

Unlike the defunct National Resistance Army (NRA), UPDF is a public institution and a State organ which is funded by the taxpayers of Uganda who come from all districts, tribes and belong to all religions and political parties registered in Uganda. As such, the citizens of Uganda have a right to know whether UPDF is functioning and operating in accordance with the Constitution and laws of Uganda.
A cursory look at the recent promotions gives the impression that 24 years after promulgation of the 1995 Constitution, UPDF resembles NRA in many respects.

It should not, therefore, come as a surprise to hear many Ugandans lament that UPDF does not reflect the national character of our beloved, gifted and multi-ethnic country. Right or wrong, the impression many Ugandans have formed of UPDF is that it is a partisan army whose main function is to defend and protect the NRM regime against the citizens of Uganda whose taxes fund the operations of UPDF.
I believe the NRM government has a duty and moral obligation to explain and allay the legitimate concerns, fears and misgivings of a large number of Ugandans about the UPDF.
For God and my Country!

Mr Acemah is a political scientist and retired career diplomat.
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