Government sued over army top jobs
Aug 19, 2009
A private company and an official of the Uganda Peoples’ Congress (UPC) have dragged the Government to the Constitutional Court over the composition of the army’s top leadership, saying it is mainly drawn from Ankole region.
By Josephine Maseruka
A private company and an official of the Uganda Peoples’ Congress (UPC) have dragged the Government to the Constitutional Court over the composition of the army’s top leadership, saying it is mainly drawn from Ankole region.
The petitioners, Advocates Pro Bono Group Limited, and UPC communication officer Benson Ogwang, argue that nepotism in the UPDF contravenes Article 208 (2) of the Constitution. The article provides that the UPDF shall have a national character.
They also say it contravenes Article 21 of the Constitution, which says there should be equality and freedom from discrimination.
The petitioners contend that all five generals in the UPDF come from the Ankole region and neighbouring districts. They name them as President Yoweri Museveni, Salim Saleh, Elly Tumwine, Aronda Nyakairima and David Tinyefuza.
They also argue that there exists preferential training, recommendation, appointment and promotion of army officers from Ankole region as opposed to the other 15 regions.
The petitioners further say the key administrative and operational posts in the UPDF are mostly occupied by people from Ankole or neigbouring districts.
The posts listed are the Chief of Defence Forces and his deputy, the Army Joint Chief of Staff, the Chief Political Commissar, the Chairman of the Court Martial, the Commander of the Air Force, the Chief of Military Intelligence and the Chief of Education, Sports and Culture.
They also point at the director of logistics, the heads of the various chieftaincies, the commandants of various battalions, the army spokespersons and the army nominee to head the Uganda Police force.
“The unbalanced promotion in the army is illegal, oppressive, unjust and unfair and a contravention of the Constitution.â€
The petitioners want the Constitutional Court to order a redress of the situation, ensuring that the UPDF acquires a national character.
They also want the court to order the army to provide information on the nature of army recruitment, training, recommendations and promotions.
Last month, the parliamentary defence committee threw out the defence minister and the UPDF leaders for refusing to provide such information. Subsequently, Parliament set up a select committee to investigate the matter.
Last financial year, MPs complained about the unfair way of appointments in the public service and in Government agencies.
However, a list presented to legislators showed that most of the posts were occupied by Baganda.
A private company and an official of the Uganda Peoples’ Congress (UPC) have dragged the Government to the Constitutional Court over the composition of the army’s top leadership, saying it is mainly drawn from Ankole region.
The petitioners, Advocates Pro Bono Group Limited, and UPC communication officer Benson Ogwang, argue that nepotism in the UPDF contravenes Article 208 (2) of the Constitution. The article provides that the UPDF shall have a national character.
They also say it contravenes Article 21 of the Constitution, which says there should be equality and freedom from discrimination.
The petitioners contend that all five generals in the UPDF come from the Ankole region and neighbouring districts. They name them as President Yoweri Museveni, Salim Saleh, Elly Tumwine, Aronda Nyakairima and David Tinyefuza.
They also argue that there exists preferential training, recommendation, appointment and promotion of army officers from Ankole region as opposed to the other 15 regions.
The petitioners further say the key administrative and operational posts in the UPDF are mostly occupied by people from Ankole or neigbouring districts.
The posts listed are the Chief of Defence Forces and his deputy, the Army Joint Chief of Staff, the Chief Political Commissar, the Chairman of the Court Martial, the Commander of the Air Force, the Chief of Military Intelligence and the Chief of Education, Sports and Culture.
They also point at the director of logistics, the heads of the various chieftaincies, the commandants of various battalions, the army spokespersons and the army nominee to head the Uganda Police force.
“The unbalanced promotion in the army is illegal, oppressive, unjust and unfair and a contravention of the Constitution.â€
The petitioners want the Constitutional Court to order a redress of the situation, ensuring that the UPDF acquires a national character.
They also want the court to order the army to provide information on the nature of army recruitment, training, recommendations and promotions.
Last month, the parliamentary defence committee threw out the defence minister and the UPDF leaders for refusing to provide such information. Subsequently, Parliament set up a select committee to investigate the matter.
Last financial year, MPs complained about the unfair way of appointments in the public service and in Government agencies.
However, a list presented to legislators showed that most of the posts were occupied by Baganda.