Defence to spend $630m to restructure army
Jul 24, 2005
THE defence ministry is to spend $630m (sh1,100b) on army equipment and restructuring.
THE defence ministry is to spend $630m (sh1,100b) on army equipment and restructuring, reports Emmy Allio.
The expenditure is part of the donor-funded Defence Review Programme (DRP), which aims to professionalise the army.
The Paris-based The Indian Ocean Newsletter, quoting a military strategy document of last June, said the ministry expected to spend the money on buying equipment and restructuring the army command as well as reviewing the military doctrine.
Defence ministry spokesman Lt. Col. Shaban Bantariza said the newsletter’s report was based on the recommendations of the DRP which will be implemented over a 15-year period.
“This paper got some facts wrong. The amounts indicated cover not only the period up to 2008,†he said.
The newsletter said the major expenditure of sh353b will go into the creation of six mechanised battalions with a view to setting up a mechanised brigade. The items to purchase include tanks, computer-guided amphibious combat vehicles and armoured personnel carriers.
One of the mechanised battalions has already been instituted and another is in the process of being created at sh88b.
Bantariza said the DRP recommendations include modernising the salary payment system, personal accountancy, purchase and management of arms and army numbers.
The newsletter said the restructuring of the military command was planned for August. This will take the form of two separate commands for the infantry and the air force. It said the establishment of the new system would cost sh33b and should open the way for designating the joint chiefs of staff in a new command structure.
Sources said the graduates from Senior Command and Staff College in Kimaka in Jinja may constitute the core of the new UPDF command structure.
The Kimaka students who pass out on August 5, include Lieutenant Generals Elly Tumwine, Salim Saleh and David Tinyefuza.
The expenditure is part of the donor-funded Defence Review Programme (DRP), which aims to professionalise the army.
The Paris-based The Indian Ocean Newsletter, quoting a military strategy document of last June, said the ministry expected to spend the money on buying equipment and restructuring the army command as well as reviewing the military doctrine.
Defence ministry spokesman Lt. Col. Shaban Bantariza said the newsletter’s report was based on the recommendations of the DRP which will be implemented over a 15-year period.
“This paper got some facts wrong. The amounts indicated cover not only the period up to 2008,†he said.
The newsletter said the major expenditure of sh353b will go into the creation of six mechanised battalions with a view to setting up a mechanised brigade. The items to purchase include tanks, computer-guided amphibious combat vehicles and armoured personnel carriers.
One of the mechanised battalions has already been instituted and another is in the process of being created at sh88b.
Bantariza said the DRP recommendations include modernising the salary payment system, personal accountancy, purchase and management of arms and army numbers.
The newsletter said the restructuring of the military command was planned for August. This will take the form of two separate commands for the infantry and the air force. It said the establishment of the new system would cost sh33b and should open the way for designating the joint chiefs of staff in a new command structure.
Sources said the graduates from Senior Command and Staff College in Kimaka in Jinja may constitute the core of the new UPDF command structure.
The Kimaka students who pass out on August 5, include Lieutenant Generals Elly Tumwine, Salim Saleh and David Tinyefuza.