Muntu free to attend army council - Muhoozi

Apr 27, 2017

Kivumbi castigated the NRM government for having people from western Uganda dominating most of the high ranks of the armed forces.

The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. David Muhoozi has said the former army commander Gen. Mugisha Muntu is free to attend the Army Council and the high command as the law requires.  

Quoting the UPDF Act, shadow minister for internal affairs Muwanga Kivumbi tasked the ministry of defence and UPDF commanders to explain why the FDC president Gen. Mugisha Muntu is not invited to attend the Army Council meetings as the law requires since the army is supposed to be non-partisan.

"Nobody has stopped Muntu from attending the army council," Muhoozi responded.

This happened while the defence ministry and UPDF commanders were appearing before the Parliament defence and internal affairs committee to defend their budget for the 2017/2018 financial year.

Kivumbi castigated the NRM government for having people from western Uganda dominating most of the high ranks of the armed forces.

"We are in a country when the Commander in Chief of Armed forces is from the western, the Chief of Defence Forces and his deputy are from the western, the minister for security is from the west. The minister for defence is from the west. The permanent secretary for the defence ministry is from the west. This is unacceptable," Kivumbi said.

Before he could finish his list, the chairperson Judith Nabakoba made attempts to stop him arguing he was acting in a sectarian way.

But the Obongi County MP Kaps Fungaroo quickly interjected to complement Kivumbi saying, "I don't understand the logic of calling people sectarian when they speak out against those who practice sectarianism. It is obvious that the national army does not reflect the national character as the constitution demands."

The defense minister, Adolf Mwesigye, dismissed the MPs' claims on sectarianism. He explained that recruitment in the army is regionally balanced by giving a quota to each district. Promotions are done on merit, he said.

Throwing more light on the matter, the CDF Muhoozi said: "The leadership of the army is sensitive to regional balance. That is why we have Maj. Gen. Charles Lutaaya as commander for the Airforce, the commander of land forces Maj. Gen. Peter Elwelu and Brig. Awani Otema as the commander of the reserve force."

Muntu is one of the 15 senior army officers who is mentioned in the second schedule who according sections 14 and 15 of the UPDF Act should be part of the Defence Forces Council and the UPDF High Command.

Others are Ivan Koreta, Jim Muhwezi, Steven Kashaka, Kahinda Otafiire, Pecos Kutesa, Joram Mugume, Fred Mwesigye, Amin Iziruk, Samson Mande, Peter Kerimu, Andrew Lutaaya, Ahmed Kashilingi, and Gyagenda Kibirango.

Section 16 of the UPDF Act states that army council and the High Command, which are the top decision making organs for the army, are supposed to meet not less than three times in a year.

 

 

 

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