Army fails to explain promotions
Jul 30, 2009
THE meeting between the defence minister and the defence and internal affairs committee yesterday ended prematurely after the ministry refused to explain the criteria of promotions in the army.
By Milton Olupot
and Mary Karugaba
THE meeting between the defence minister and the defence and internal affairs committee yesterday ended prematurely after the ministry refused to explain the criteria of promotions in the army.
Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, accompanied by Permanent Secretary Rosette Byengoma and army chief Aronda Nyakairima, was meeting the committee chaired by Matthias Kasamba in camera to explain how promotions, training and recruitment is carried out in the army.
They were also to explain the status of the appointment of defence state minister Lt. Gen. Jeje Odongo.
The committee last week accused the army leadership of nepotism and failing to balance the army regionally.
They said most of the top officers were from the western region.
In the same meeting the MPs observed that out of the 15 top officers present, 12 were from western Uganda.
They also said out of 10 army representatives in Parliament, seven were from the same region.
Also present at the meeting was the Joint Chief of Staff, Brig. Robert Rusoke, the deputy commandant of the airforce, Brig. Samuel Turyagenda, the commandant of the engineering brigade, Brig. Timothy Sabiiti and the commander of the land forces, Lt. Gen. Katumba Wamala.
At about 2:00pm yesterday when Kiyonga and the commanders came out of the meeting, they declined to talk to the journalists who had waited for about four hours. The committee chairperson also declined to discuss the proceedings of the meeting.
Sources in the committee said Aronda declined to give the list of the names, ranks and positions occupied in the top army hierarchy, arguing that it would jeopardise the security of the country.
“The man totally refused to give us the information, saying it was not possible and safe for the Government to tell us the number of people and their ranks,†Hassan Fungaroo (FDC) said after the meeting.
“It is not possible for the army to tell the truth. It was a disgraceful meeting. Naturally it was too difficult for them because the truth is glaring that there is imbalance in the army,†Hussein Kyanjo said.
After hours of fruitless debate, committee member Rose Namayanja (NRM) reportedly proposed that a select committee of three, who could be entrusted with the classified information, be set up to discuss with the ministry in confidence. This, however, is said to have divided the committee as the opposition MPs rejected the proposal. But when the matter was put to vote, the opposition lost 7 to 4.
Outside the committee, the opposition members accused the chairperson of impartiality. “I am disappointed with the chairperson, he forgot that he was an MP and acted as part of the Executive and hijacked the minister’s role by trying to explain issues in the ministry,†Franca Akello (FDC) said.
“We are supposed to appropriate funds for the army, how do we do this when they are hiding information from us?†she wondered. She said the opposition would write a minority report in case the committee went a head to appropriate the money before the issues raised are solved.
Kiyonga and Aronda immediately after the committee meeting, proceeded to meet Kasamba in his office.
and Mary Karugaba
THE meeting between the defence minister and the defence and internal affairs committee yesterday ended prematurely after the ministry refused to explain the criteria of promotions in the army.
Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, accompanied by Permanent Secretary Rosette Byengoma and army chief Aronda Nyakairima, was meeting the committee chaired by Matthias Kasamba in camera to explain how promotions, training and recruitment is carried out in the army.
They were also to explain the status of the appointment of defence state minister Lt. Gen. Jeje Odongo.
The committee last week accused the army leadership of nepotism and failing to balance the army regionally.
They said most of the top officers were from the western region.
In the same meeting the MPs observed that out of the 15 top officers present, 12 were from western Uganda.
They also said out of 10 army representatives in Parliament, seven were from the same region.
Also present at the meeting was the Joint Chief of Staff, Brig. Robert Rusoke, the deputy commandant of the airforce, Brig. Samuel Turyagenda, the commandant of the engineering brigade, Brig. Timothy Sabiiti and the commander of the land forces, Lt. Gen. Katumba Wamala.
At about 2:00pm yesterday when Kiyonga and the commanders came out of the meeting, they declined to talk to the journalists who had waited for about four hours. The committee chairperson also declined to discuss the proceedings of the meeting.
Sources in the committee said Aronda declined to give the list of the names, ranks and positions occupied in the top army hierarchy, arguing that it would jeopardise the security of the country.
“The man totally refused to give us the information, saying it was not possible and safe for the Government to tell us the number of people and their ranks,†Hassan Fungaroo (FDC) said after the meeting.
“It is not possible for the army to tell the truth. It was a disgraceful meeting. Naturally it was too difficult for them because the truth is glaring that there is imbalance in the army,†Hussein Kyanjo said.
After hours of fruitless debate, committee member Rose Namayanja (NRM) reportedly proposed that a select committee of three, who could be entrusted with the classified information, be set up to discuss with the ministry in confidence. This, however, is said to have divided the committee as the opposition MPs rejected the proposal. But when the matter was put to vote, the opposition lost 7 to 4.
Outside the committee, the opposition members accused the chairperson of impartiality. “I am disappointed with the chairperson, he forgot that he was an MP and acted as part of the Executive and hijacked the minister’s role by trying to explain issues in the ministry,†Franca Akello (FDC) said.
“We are supposed to appropriate funds for the army, how do we do this when they are hiding information from us?†she wondered. She said the opposition would write a minority report in case the committee went a head to appropriate the money before the issues raised are solved.
Kiyonga and Aronda immediately after the committee meeting, proceeded to meet Kasamba in his office.