UGANDA PEOPLES CONGRESS NATIONAL SECRETARIAT Plot 8-10, Kampala Road, Uganda House, P.O Box 37047, Kampala. Phone/Fax: +256-41-236748 PRESS STATEMENT (Embargoed for release at 11.00 am, 5th September,2007 ) THE PROMISE TO PROFESSIONALISE THE ARMY HAS BEEN A DISMAL FAILURE 1. The Uganda Peoples Congress expresses great concern at how the UPDF has been managed since the programme of professionalizing the army began way back in 2003 when the defense review was launched with the funding from British government. The professionalisation that should have involved acquisition of better transport equipment and communication gadgets, training of our officers, construction of modern barracks and improving the welfare of the army has not yet materialized. 2. The recent gruesome accident involving UPDF soldiers and their families has again exposed the state of affairs in UPDF. The welfare of our gallant soldiers has been neglected and compromised. UPC wonders whether UPDF has got a policy on death since it took the intervention of Parliament to urge the defense Ministry to call for a national mourning, compensate the victims of the crash and pay the salaries of the dead to their families. Even the names and the bodies of the fallen officers have not been revealed leading to wrong distribution of these bodies to families. This proves that UPDF now does not have a computerized data base of our soldiers. 3. The attitude displayed by the leadership of the army and the officials in the Ministry of defense immediately after the crash is very regrettable, disheartening and leaves a lot to be desired as far as the professionalsiation of UPDF is concerned. The mindset of those steering the UPDF is the most important asset in the realization of the goals of a truly modernized, professionalized and a disciplined army subordinate to civilian authority in a multiparty system of governance. 4. The Ministry of defense budget since the early 90's has been increasing steadily. Inspite of the absence of war in most parts of the country and the current peace negotiations in Juba between the Government of Uganda and the Lords Resistance Army, the defense budget continues to skyrocket yet our soldiers continue to receive poor services even in death. UPC is questioning how the ministry spends and audits its account. UPC would like to know whether classified expenditure still exist in UPDF. 5. The Uganda Peoples Congress supported the UPDF peace mission deployment in Somalia on conditions, among others that their welfare would be guaranteed and their families be compensated and looked after incase of death. UPC did this owing to the UPDF track record in the Democratic Republic of Congo where we lost soldiers and the army leadership has never accounted to Ugandans how many UPDF soldiers perished in the unsanctioned mission. 6. The defense and security of our motherland which is constitutionally invested in UPDF, Police and other security agencies must be handled in a nationalistic and humane manner .UPC was very shocked to learn that, the government of Uganda is engaged in the acts of tribalism, nepotism and sectarianism in recruiting Ugandans into the police force. UPDF condemns this practice and calls upon the government of Uganda to set a standard that does not discriminate any Ugandan. 7. UPC calls upon the international community and their agencies that support the continued professionalisation of UPDF to take keen interest in the manner in which the army is being managed. Uganda cannot meet its international obligations successfully like the Liberia peace mission, Somalia peace mission while the welfare of our soldiers and police are appalling 8. UPC further calls upon the people of Uganda to start holding the government accountable when it comes to defense matters. For God and My Country Mama Miria Kalule Obote President, Uganda Peoples Congress --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Courtesy of:
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