A stable East Africa to boost foreign investment, says Kiyonga
Jun 01, 2011
DEFENCE minister Dr. Crispus Kiyonga has called for stability among the East African community member states, saying it will boost local and foreign investment.
By FRANK MUGABI
and JACKIE NAMBOGGA
DEFENCE minister Dr. Crispus Kiyonga has called for stability among the East African community member states, saying it will boost local and foreign investment.
Kiyonga said through peace and stability, economic development can be achieved.
“Investors must be convinced that their lives and property will be safe tomorrow. If there is any instability, there will be no production and jobs,†Kiyonga said.
He was speaking at the passout of 58 army officers at the Junior Staff College at Gadaffi Barracks in Jinja recently.
Kiyonga noted that unemployment remains the biggest challenge for the Government.
He added that the only way to create jobs is to ensure that investment takes place in a stable environment.
The East African Community member states, he said, were steadily working towards a joint political union, where the army will be merged into a single force.
“Once this is achieved, there will be stability,†Kiyonga said.
He commended the security forces for ensuring peace during this year’s general elections.
“The European Union, African Union and Common Wealth representatives said the exercise was transparent and reflected the will of the people. This was achieved because of the deployments that were put in place,†Kiyonga said.
He told the soldiers that their welfare would soon be improved and that arrangements were underway to sort out those who had not accessed the pension payroll.
Kiyonga revealed that $1.5m (sh3.6b) had been put on the UPDF defence fund to enable soldiers’ spouses borrow money to invest in income-generating activities.
He added that guidelines on how to access the funds would soon be designed.
The commander of the land forces, Lt. Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, who represented the Chief of Defence Forces, told officers to always be ready for deployment.
The college commandant, Col. Sam Omara, said the officers went through a series of command and administration courses related to anti-terrorism, human rights and logistic.
and JACKIE NAMBOGGA
DEFENCE minister Dr. Crispus Kiyonga has called for stability among the East African community member states, saying it will boost local and foreign investment.
Kiyonga said through peace and stability, economic development can be achieved.
“Investors must be convinced that their lives and property will be safe tomorrow. If there is any instability, there will be no production and jobs,†Kiyonga said.
He was speaking at the passout of 58 army officers at the Junior Staff College at Gadaffi Barracks in Jinja recently.
Kiyonga noted that unemployment remains the biggest challenge for the Government.
He added that the only way to create jobs is to ensure that investment takes place in a stable environment.
The East African Community member states, he said, were steadily working towards a joint political union, where the army will be merged into a single force.
“Once this is achieved, there will be stability,†Kiyonga said.
He commended the security forces for ensuring peace during this year’s general elections.
“The European Union, African Union and Common Wealth representatives said the exercise was transparent and reflected the will of the people. This was achieved because of the deployments that were put in place,†Kiyonga said.
He told the soldiers that their welfare would soon be improved and that arrangements were underway to sort out those who had not accessed the pension payroll.
Kiyonga revealed that $1.5m (sh3.6b) had been put on the UPDF defence fund to enable soldiers’ spouses borrow money to invest in income-generating activities.
He added that guidelines on how to access the funds would soon be designed.
The commander of the land forces, Lt. Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, who represented the Chief of Defence Forces, told officers to always be ready for deployment.
The college commandant, Col. Sam Omara, said the officers went through a series of command and administration courses related to anti-terrorism, human rights and logistic.