UPDF retires 88-year old soldier

Apr 01, 2015

An 88-year old UPDF soldier with 36 children has finally been discharged from the army as a Private

By Francis Emorut                                        

An 88-year old UPDF soldier with 36 children has finally been discharged from the army after making six failed attempts to retire
.

Samuel Loboru who joined the army on June 26, 1965 was excited to be relieved from the service and is ready to become a herdsman.

"I wanted to retire early, but I was told to wait and I am happy that the waiting has been granted today," Loboru told New Vision.

Loboru is among the 1,431 soldiers the UPDF has discharged from the service.

The 88-year-old was discharged at the rank of private.

 


Retired soldier Leonard Ojur and his wife Harriet Achora during the  UPDF discharg ceremony at Kakiri army barracks in Wakiso district on March 31, 2015. Photo/Francis Emorut


Loboru who studied up to P.5 hails at Kalupenya in Moroto district wondered why he was kept long in the army and yet he had back pain and knees and couldn't run any more.

Loboru, who uses a walking stick has lost sight and is so especially poor in the evening he needs a guide to help him.

He said retirement was a great relief to him as he joins his three wives, 25 daughters and 11 sons in Karamoja.


Retired soldiers signing for their certificates after being discharged from the army at Kakiri army barracks in Wakiso district on March 31, 2015. Photo/Francis Emorut

Leonard Ojur, 60, who joined the army in 1987, also narrated his ordeal to New Vision saying he got paralyzed in 2008 and since then he has never passed a stool through the anus and passes urine through a catheter.

He explained that he uses gloves and vaseline that is rubbed on the anus and he has to insert a finger until he passes  stool. 

He said the doctors who treated him at Lacor Hospital diagnosed the disease he is suffering from as TB of the bones.

"I swallowed TB drugs for nine months and I did not feel any improvement," Ojur said.

The retired soldier, at the rank of sergeant, does not believe that he is suffering from TB of the bones but suspects witchcraft at play after stepping on a strange object.


A pregnant soldier's wife and others entertaining guests in Acholi dance during the army discharge ceremony at Kakiri baracks in Wakiso district. Photo/Francis Emorut

Ojur, who dropped out of school in S1, has been working in the army as signaler.

The 60-year-old soldier who uses a wheelchair was wheeled by his wife Harriet Achora to attend the discharge ceremony at Kakiri Army barracks in Wakiso district on Tuesday.

Over 43 soldiers were discharged at the 1st Division in Kakiri barracks.

Ojur hails from Gulu and has four children pledged to support his wife in doing business.
 
The army discharge ceremony was officiated by Col. Fred Karara, the 1st Infantry Division UPDF.

Karara advised the retired soldiers to be ready to serve the country at any time they are called upon as a reserve force.

"As members of reserve force you must observe good duties and be ready at any moment to serve the nation when you are called upon," Karara said.

Karara explained that prevailing circumstances of civil wars and financial constraints as some of the reasons that delayed to discharge soldiers who had served the force for so long even after attaining retirement age. 

Among the 43 soldiers retired five officers were at the ranks from captain to lieutenant colonel. The guests were entertained by the soldiers wives and Air Force band in the barracks.
 

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