Defence budget: Uganda measures poorly against others
Jun 27, 2006
Whenever the national budget is read, Ugandans watch out for how much has been allocated to defence. Normally, it constitutes around 2.3% of the Gross Domestic Product. This is within range of the international average.
By Joshua Kato
Whenever the national budget is read, Ugandans watch out for how much has been allocated to defence. Normally, it constitutes around 2.3% of the Gross Domestic Product. This is within range of the international average.
One reason why the amount allocated to defence is sternly scrutinised by the public is because it is largely considered as a sector meant to prop up those in power.
This year, sh377b was allocated to both defence and security, with defence taking sh350b. Some people argue that there is a need to spend more on health than defence. Of the entire allocations, defence and security come in fifth, behind education (sh720b) roads and transport (sh410b) and health (sh500b).
However, defence state minister Ruth Nankabirwa and the army argue that the allocations are still very low, compared to the needs of the army. Even President Yoweri Museveni himself has consistently insisted that defence, given its responsibilities, is one of the most under-funded sectors of the government.
In Kenya, defence comes third behind education and finance, as the case is in Tanzania. Kenya budgeted Ksh33b (about Ush670b) for defence. This was almost twice as much as what Uganda has budgeted. However, it is worth noting that Kenya has got a much bigger economy than Uganda. It is also worth noting that unlike Kenya and Tanzania, Uganda’s budget is a war budget.
World trend
Worldwide, the US accounts for 47% of the entire world defence budget. On average, the US has spent at least $420b of the around $1,000b annually spent on defence. Russia, France, UK, Japan, Germany, Saudi Arabia and China are among the top 10. Leading African countries include Egypt with $2.5b, Libya $0.7b and Sudan $0.5b. Sudan, Uganda’s leading military adversary for the last 20 years, spends almost four times what Uganda spends on defence. “And yet we buy weapons and logistics from the same market,†observes a UPDF officer.
Defence budgets for countries under war average 4% of their GDP. Russia spends 4.9% on defence, the US spends 3.7% while China spends 3.9%. The 2.3% that Uganda spends on defence cannot be classified as a war budget. Countries threatened by war like Pakistan and India spend 4.0% on defence, and so does Iran and other countries.
There are also arguments that overspending on defence is not a guarantee for safety of nations. Although the US spends a lot of money, it remains the most threatened country in the world.
Where does the money go?
UPDF spokesman Maj. Felix Kulayigye says the money allocated to defence “is peanutsâ€.
However, Forum for Democratic Change president Col. Kizza Besigye says on top of the allocated funds, defence occasionally “borrows†money from other ministries, which it never pays back.
“I don’t see why defence should have all those allocations because they also “hide†money in other ministries that they take after the budget has been passed, disguised as borrowing,†Besigye says.
Nankabirwa refutes this, saying, “Whenever we want more money in defence, we ask for supplementary funds through Parliament. In any case, every ministry accounts for its own money.â€
Professionalising the army has been an ongoing programme and is roundly considered the highest consumer of defence funds. According to Nankabirwa, it will again constitute most of the allocations. This includes training officers, constructing barracks and offices, acquiring better equipment, improving welfare and engaging in humanitarian or peace-keeping missions. Training has been going on in the army. In the last few years, Kimaka, a college of senior officers, has passed out batches. Training has also been conducted at Kalama (for tank crews), Butiaba (artillery and air-defence), Kasenyi (PGB), Kaweweta (infantry) and Jinja (cadets). Sources in the army say it costs at least sh10m to effectively train a cadet for a year. The amount includes limited study travel outside the country. On average, cadet intake is about 500 recruits every year.
Training means promotions thereafter, which in turn means an increase in the wage bill of the army.
In fact, the army wage bill takes at least sh100b of the sh350b, leaving sh250b to cater for training, acquisition of weapons and welfare.
For the record, Ugandan soldiers are the least paid among their East African comrades. For example, a Kenyan private earns the equivalent of Ush400,000 and a Tanzanian one slightly lower. On the other hand, a Ugandan private earns about sh160,000, a lieutenant earns twice as much as a private while a major earns about sh0.6m. The figures rise as the ranks go higher.
In the last few years, many of promotions have been made in the army, thus the increase in the wage bill.
Acquiring new weapons for the soldiers is also going on, because weapons have to be modernised. Soldiers need means of transport like trucks and helicopters. They need tanks and APCs to fight, fighter planes, artillery to support the infantry and communication gadgets. And the cost is high. For example in 2003, the army spent at least sh18b on three Mi-24 helicopters. This doesn’t include the service and allowances for crews.
Earlier, they had spent sh20b to acquire and overhaul 3 Mig-21 interceptors. Going by the display of weapons at Kololo early this year, the army has been buying hard and much. New 155mm self propelled howitzers were shown, BM-21s, Shoulder-fired AA missiles, new tanks, new BMPs and Mine sweepers.
Maintenance of the weapons is also expensive. For example, tanks require to be “warmed†at least once a week.
“Warming a tank for just 20 minutes requires at least 200 litres of fuel,†says Kulayigye. The army has over 200 tanks, each of which has to be warmed at least once a week. Mig-21 fighter planes are also supposed to be warmed at least once a week.
“These are fuel guzzlers, just one hour in the air needs at least 2,000 litres of jet fuel,†Kulayigye says.
For a helicopter to fly from Entebbe to Gulu, it consumes about 1,200 litres of fuel, a litre of which costs about sh2,000. This amounts to about sh2.4m everyday. The army uses at least six choppers and if these choppers fly to northern Uganda at least 10 times a month, it costs about sh144m for the fuel alone.
“Driving a BM-21 to northern Uganda needs at least 900 litres of diesel,†says Kulayigye.
The army also has many trucks that need fuel and service everyday. Although modern armies sleep in good conditions, most UPDF soldiers still sleep in huts. In recent years, however, barracks have been constructed at Kakiri, Kasenyi and Kalama in Mubende and the programme is still going on.
Constructing a basic barracks for 700 soldiers and their families costs around sh5b. There are over 60 barracks in the country and hundreds of small units that have to be catered for.
The welfare of soldiers has been in the spotlight for many years. Pictures of soldiers fighting Kony in torn uniforms were common. These days, soldiers are smarter and better dressed. However, a lot has to be done.
“Each of us is given three sets of uniforms, but in operational zones uniforms get torn very fast,†says a UPDF lieutenant who served in Southern Sudan, but is now based at the 2nd Division Kakiri.
He suggested that soldiers in operational areas should be given at least six sets of uniforms per year. But it all goes back to the availability of funds. According to a source in the procurement directorate, a set of uniform costs at least sh50,000. There are about 60,000 officers who need at least three sets every year. About sh3b is needed for uniforms alone!
People fear that the money is misused. For example, scandals of junk helicopters, ill-fitting uniforms and stale food affected the people’s confidence in the army about six years ago.
Between 1990 and 2002, the army payroll had at least 18,000 ghost soldiers, according to the David Tinyefuza Report. This meant that a lot of the funds allocated as part of the wage bill were ‘eaten’ by a few commanders.
From 2003, however, the army establishment has been fighting ghost soldiers seriously. A hand count was carried out and the actual strength of different units established.
As far as training is concerned, many officers in the army are angry that this is segregative.
“I have been in the army for 13 years and I have never got any further training. Younger officers have come, got promoted and got further training. This training benefits a few,†laments a lieutenant. So many other soldiers have similar sentiments.
To convince the public that defence needs more allocation, accountability for what is given now should be seriously emphasised.
Army commander Lt. Gen. Aronda Nyakairima seems to be trying, since incidents of scandals are no longer heard of in the army.
Ends
Whenever the national budget is read, Ugandans watch out for how much has been allocated to defence. Normally, it constitutes around 2.3% of the Gross Domestic Product. This is within range of the international average.
One reason why the amount allocated to defence is sternly scrutinised by the public is because it is largely considered as a sector meant to prop up those in power.
This year, sh377b was allocated to both defence and security, with defence taking sh350b. Some people argue that there is a need to spend more on health than defence. Of the entire allocations, defence and security come in fifth, behind education (sh720b) roads and transport (sh410b) and health (sh500b).
However, defence state minister Ruth Nankabirwa and the army argue that the allocations are still very low, compared to the needs of the army. Even President Yoweri Museveni himself has consistently insisted that defence, given its responsibilities, is one of the most under-funded sectors of the government.
In Kenya, defence comes third behind education and finance, as the case is in Tanzania. Kenya budgeted Ksh33b (about Ush670b) for defence. This was almost twice as much as what Uganda has budgeted. However, it is worth noting that Kenya has got a much bigger economy than Uganda. It is also worth noting that unlike Kenya and Tanzania, Uganda’s budget is a war budget.
World trend
Worldwide, the US accounts for 47% of the entire world defence budget. On average, the US has spent at least $420b of the around $1,000b annually spent on defence. Russia, France, UK, Japan, Germany, Saudi Arabia and China are among the top 10. Leading African countries include Egypt with $2.5b, Libya $0.7b and Sudan $0.5b. Sudan, Uganda’s leading military adversary for the last 20 years, spends almost four times what Uganda spends on defence. “And yet we buy weapons and logistics from the same market,†observes a UPDF officer.
Defence budgets for countries under war average 4% of their GDP. Russia spends 4.9% on defence, the US spends 3.7% while China spends 3.9%. The 2.3% that Uganda spends on defence cannot be classified as a war budget. Countries threatened by war like Pakistan and India spend 4.0% on defence, and so does Iran and other countries.
There are also arguments that overspending on defence is not a guarantee for safety of nations. Although the US spends a lot of money, it remains the most threatened country in the world.
Where does the money go?
UPDF spokesman Maj. Felix Kulayigye says the money allocated to defence “is peanutsâ€.
However, Forum for Democratic Change president Col. Kizza Besigye says on top of the allocated funds, defence occasionally “borrows†money from other ministries, which it never pays back.
“I don’t see why defence should have all those allocations because they also “hide†money in other ministries that they take after the budget has been passed, disguised as borrowing,†Besigye says.
Nankabirwa refutes this, saying, “Whenever we want more money in defence, we ask for supplementary funds through Parliament. In any case, every ministry accounts for its own money.â€
Professionalising the army has been an ongoing programme and is roundly considered the highest consumer of defence funds. According to Nankabirwa, it will again constitute most of the allocations. This includes training officers, constructing barracks and offices, acquiring better equipment, improving welfare and engaging in humanitarian or peace-keeping missions. Training has been going on in the army. In the last few years, Kimaka, a college of senior officers, has passed out batches. Training has also been conducted at Kalama (for tank crews), Butiaba (artillery and air-defence), Kasenyi (PGB), Kaweweta (infantry) and Jinja (cadets). Sources in the army say it costs at least sh10m to effectively train a cadet for a year. The amount includes limited study travel outside the country. On average, cadet intake is about 500 recruits every year.
Training means promotions thereafter, which in turn means an increase in the wage bill of the army.
In fact, the army wage bill takes at least sh100b of the sh350b, leaving sh250b to cater for training, acquisition of weapons and welfare.
For the record, Ugandan soldiers are the least paid among their East African comrades. For example, a Kenyan private earns the equivalent of Ush400,000 and a Tanzanian one slightly lower. On the other hand, a Ugandan private earns about sh160,000, a lieutenant earns twice as much as a private while a major earns about sh0.6m. The figures rise as the ranks go higher.
In the last few years, many of promotions have been made in the army, thus the increase in the wage bill.
Acquiring new weapons for the soldiers is also going on, because weapons have to be modernised. Soldiers need means of transport like trucks and helicopters. They need tanks and APCs to fight, fighter planes, artillery to support the infantry and communication gadgets. And the cost is high. For example in 2003, the army spent at least sh18b on three Mi-24 helicopters. This doesn’t include the service and allowances for crews.
Earlier, they had spent sh20b to acquire and overhaul 3 Mig-21 interceptors. Going by the display of weapons at Kololo early this year, the army has been buying hard and much. New 155mm self propelled howitzers were shown, BM-21s, Shoulder-fired AA missiles, new tanks, new BMPs and Mine sweepers.
Maintenance of the weapons is also expensive. For example, tanks require to be “warmed†at least once a week.
“Warming a tank for just 20 minutes requires at least 200 litres of fuel,†says Kulayigye. The army has over 200 tanks, each of which has to be warmed at least once a week. Mig-21 fighter planes are also supposed to be warmed at least once a week.
“These are fuel guzzlers, just one hour in the air needs at least 2,000 litres of jet fuel,†Kulayigye says.
For a helicopter to fly from Entebbe to Gulu, it consumes about 1,200 litres of fuel, a litre of which costs about sh2,000. This amounts to about sh2.4m everyday. The army uses at least six choppers and if these choppers fly to northern Uganda at least 10 times a month, it costs about sh144m for the fuel alone.
“Driving a BM-21 to northern Uganda needs at least 900 litres of diesel,†says Kulayigye.
The army also has many trucks that need fuel and service everyday. Although modern armies sleep in good conditions, most UPDF soldiers still sleep in huts. In recent years, however, barracks have been constructed at Kakiri, Kasenyi and Kalama in Mubende and the programme is still going on.
Constructing a basic barracks for 700 soldiers and their families costs around sh5b. There are over 60 barracks in the country and hundreds of small units that have to be catered for.
The welfare of soldiers has been in the spotlight for many years. Pictures of soldiers fighting Kony in torn uniforms were common. These days, soldiers are smarter and better dressed. However, a lot has to be done.
“Each of us is given three sets of uniforms, but in operational zones uniforms get torn very fast,†says a UPDF lieutenant who served in Southern Sudan, but is now based at the 2nd Division Kakiri.
He suggested that soldiers in operational areas should be given at least six sets of uniforms per year. But it all goes back to the availability of funds. According to a source in the procurement directorate, a set of uniform costs at least sh50,000. There are about 60,000 officers who need at least three sets every year. About sh3b is needed for uniforms alone!
People fear that the money is misused. For example, scandals of junk helicopters, ill-fitting uniforms and stale food affected the people’s confidence in the army about six years ago.
Between 1990 and 2002, the army payroll had at least 18,000 ghost soldiers, according to the David Tinyefuza Report. This meant that a lot of the funds allocated as part of the wage bill were ‘eaten’ by a few commanders.
From 2003, however, the army establishment has been fighting ghost soldiers seriously. A hand count was carried out and the actual strength of different units established.
As far as training is concerned, many officers in the army are angry that this is segregative.
“I have been in the army for 13 years and I have never got any further training. Younger officers have come, got promoted and got further training. This training benefits a few,†laments a lieutenant. So many other soldiers have similar sentiments.
To convince the public that defence needs more allocation, accountability for what is given now should be seriously emphasised.
Army commander Lt. Gen. Aronda Nyakairima seems to be trying, since incidents of scandals are no longer heard of in the army.
Ends