By Chris Ocowun

THE UPDF Fourth Division owes sh1b to five food suppliers in northern Uganda. The money accumulated since February 2008. The suppliers delivered food to feed the patients in the division hospital and soldiers in operation.

The suppliers include Jack and Family, Baker Supplies, Louis, Pajaa Firm & Company and Fao Supplies all based in Gulu. The suppliers complained on Monday that the banks had written to them over their loan non-payment. The suppliers acquired loans to buy the food items for the Army.

“They (Army) keep promising us that they are putting money in our accounts. Sometimes they pay us for the smaller supplies but not all the money,” one supplier, who declined to be named, said.

“Some of us are about to run mad because the banks are giving us warning letters. We have pleaded with the Army authorities in vain.

“We went up to Bombo (Army Headquarters) but we were told to wait,” another supplier added. He threatened to cut supplies to the Army until the arrears are cleared.

Capt. Ronald Kakurungu, the UPDF spokesman in the north, acknowledged the debt. “But they (suppliers) themselves are aware that arrangements are being made to pay them all their outstanding arrears.

“The payment for these supplies is done by the defence ministry. “What the division does is to make the documentation of the quantities supplied and the amount of money to be paid,” Kakurungu explained in an interview this week.

He said the ministry was aware of the arrears and was making arrangements to clear them soon. Kakurungu argued that cutting supplies to the division would not solve the problem.