UPDF paymaster flees with sh230m
Feb 02, 2004
ANOTHER financial scam has hit the UPDF.
By Grace Matsiko
ANOTHER financial scam has hit the UPDF.
A paymaster has reportedly vanished with over sh230m meant for soldiers fighting the LRA in northern Uganda.
The suspect, Lt. Amuria, is a paymaster for the 503 Brigade in Kitgum.
The sh236,065,000 was salaries for three battalions, which are estimated to be about 3,000 soldiers.
Army spokesman Maj. Shaban Bantariza said between sh210m and sh221m could have been taken. He said the brigade commander, Lt. Col. Sam Kiwanuka, had been put under “confinement†on orders of the Army Commander, Maj. Gen. Aronda Nyakairima.
“The Army Commander, has sworn to get the culprits and he won’t sleep until he gets them and we are all on the move to get them,†Bantariza said.
He said the political commissar of the Fourth Division, Capt. Kidega, was also arrested.
Unconfirmed reports said a paymaster for the 209 Brigade, whose particulars were not readily available, had also been detained.
Amuria is said to have been among the suspended UPDF paymasters but because he was a signatory to the account in Lira, he had to go there to pick the money.
“Amuria went to Lira alone and picked the money without the escorts of the pay team and vanished,†Bantariza said.
“We must also establish why the bankers gave that money to Amuria when he was alone,†he added.
He said when such an incident happens in a military unit, “every member of the team (administration) becomes a suspect.â€
Army sources said Aronda instructed all military units on border checkpoints and those deployed in Gulu, Kitgum and Lira look out for Amuria.
In October last year, a paymaster from the Fourth Infantry Division reportedly stole sh81m but Bantariza said they had recovered the money.
Over 20 UPDF paymasters have either fled the country or been arrested for stealing soldiers’ salaries. Some senior UPDF officers are on trial for allegedly inflating the military payroll with non-existent soldiers.
In 2001, a paymaster deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Capt. Dan Byakutaaga, allegedly vanished with US$1,055,555 (over sh2b) meant for the soldiers’ salaries.
In 1997, Lt. Paul Konde fled to Zambia with sh53m for soldiers’ salaries.
Ends
ANOTHER financial scam has hit the UPDF.
A paymaster has reportedly vanished with over sh230m meant for soldiers fighting the LRA in northern Uganda.
The suspect, Lt. Amuria, is a paymaster for the 503 Brigade in Kitgum.
The sh236,065,000 was salaries for three battalions, which are estimated to be about 3,000 soldiers.
Army spokesman Maj. Shaban Bantariza said between sh210m and sh221m could have been taken. He said the brigade commander, Lt. Col. Sam Kiwanuka, had been put under “confinement†on orders of the Army Commander, Maj. Gen. Aronda Nyakairima.
“The Army Commander, has sworn to get the culprits and he won’t sleep until he gets them and we are all on the move to get them,†Bantariza said.
He said the political commissar of the Fourth Division, Capt. Kidega, was also arrested.
Unconfirmed reports said a paymaster for the 209 Brigade, whose particulars were not readily available, had also been detained.
Amuria is said to have been among the suspended UPDF paymasters but because he was a signatory to the account in Lira, he had to go there to pick the money.
“Amuria went to Lira alone and picked the money without the escorts of the pay team and vanished,†Bantariza said.
“We must also establish why the bankers gave that money to Amuria when he was alone,†he added.
He said when such an incident happens in a military unit, “every member of the team (administration) becomes a suspect.â€
Army sources said Aronda instructed all military units on border checkpoints and those deployed in Gulu, Kitgum and Lira look out for Amuria.
In October last year, a paymaster from the Fourth Infantry Division reportedly stole sh81m but Bantariza said they had recovered the money.
Over 20 UPDF paymasters have either fled the country or been arrested for stealing soldiers’ salaries. Some senior UPDF officers are on trial for allegedly inflating the military payroll with non-existent soldiers.
In 2001, a paymaster deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Capt. Dan Byakutaaga, allegedly vanished with US$1,055,555 (over sh2b) meant for the soldiers’ salaries.
In 1997, Lt. Paul Konde fled to Zambia with sh53m for soldiers’ salaries.
Ends