Parliament’s Defence and Internal Affairs Committee has recommended that government increases salaries for soldiers in the next financial year of 2022/23.

The proposal is contained in the report the committee has come up regarding the draft budget proposals for the defence and internal affairs sectors.

While presenting the committee report to the Parliament Budget Committee on Tuesday, the Parliament Defence and Internal Affairs Committee chairperson Rosemary Nyakikongoro said the decision to increase salaries for soldiers is long overdue.

“The committee established that salaries for the soldiers were last enhanced eight years ago; the current monthly pay of a soldier at the rank of private is shs485,000 amidst the increased cost of living,” she explained.

Nyakikongoro, who is also the Sheema woman MP, noted that the committee she leads has supported UPDF’s request for an additional sh493.2bn so that the lowest paid soldier can earn sh600,000.