Ministry of finance to find Shs630 billion for UPDF new salary and retirement plans

More than 30 general officers in the UPDF army are set to retire, including Gen. David Ssejusa, Gen. Elly Tumwine, Lt. Gen. Proscovia Nalweyiso, Lt. Gen. Andrew Gutti, Lt. Gen. John Mugume, Maj. Gen. Stephen Kashaka, Maj. Gen. Phinehas Katirima, Maj. Gen. Elly Kayanja, Maj. Gen. Michael Ondoga, Maj. Gen. Gavas Mugyenyi, Brig. Stephen Kwiringira, among others.

According to President Museveni, the Generals have been surviving on crumbs and patriotism and they deserve a warm goodbye.

“They are very few really, and they have served the country all this time. Why don’t we send them off well,” Museveni is quoted to have said.

In a meeting with the UPDF High Command and the Army Council at the State House in Entebbe, last week, the plan to increase salaries by 100% for senior officers was given a green light. The UPDF generals were to be the first to receive increments since they are few compared to the lower ranks.

“The meeting agreed with the team recommendation of 100% enhancement for general officers because they are few, they have served for long and many of them are set to retire this financial year 2022/23,” a statement from the defence spokesperson said.

Following this agreement, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence, and personnel from the Ministry of Public Service, led a technical team to come up with salary increment options which they then presented to the Ministry of Finance.

According to UPDF Spokesperson, Brig. Felix Kulayigye, all planned retirement packages and salary increments will require about 630 billion shillings.

“This would require an additional annual amount of 517.9 billion Shillings for wages, 116.8billion Shillings for terminal benefits, ultimately translating into a total additional annual requirement of 634.8 billion Shillings," he said.

However, the proposed changes might have to wait for the next financial year to take effect.

"The enhancement, according to the Secretary to the Treasury and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, would be effected starting in the financial year 2023/24 because the budget for financial year 2022/23 has already been passed and the item had not been catered for,” Kulayigye added.

The retirement exercise for officers below the rank of captain has been pushed to the next financial year, but the generals might face the same fate if funds are not raised in the current financial year.