Army Housing Debate Heats Up
Aug 20, 2003
THE anticipated sh10b low-cost housing project for the UPDF still hangs in balance due to growing disagreement among high-ranking army officers,
THE anticipated sh10b low-cost housing project for the UPDF still hangs in balance due to growing disagreement among high-ranking army officers, reports Cyprian Musoke.
The venture, designed to solve the army’s housing problems, cannot take-off as debate rages on whether to rehabilitate old barracks or build new houses.
According to information before the defence and internal affairs committee, the whereabouts of the sh10b raised through accumulated deductions on soldiers’ housing allowances is also in question.
At a meeting yesterday, committee chairman Simon Mayende told MPs that a senior officer who took MPs on a tour of Magamaga barracks a few months ago had been temporarily retired for expressing his opinion on the matter.
The officer, whom Mayende declined to name, said low-ranking soldiers were for the renovation of old structures because it was cost-effective and could be done in a shorter time.
The MPs were irked to learn that only one of the five proposed barracks was worked on using the sh10b and the rest of the money was scattered on items not agreed upon.
“These soldiers’ money in housing allowances was cut with promises to build them descent barracks. We need to know where this sh10b for five barracks went, whether there was a policy decision to change this money from the barracks to another item, and whether value for money was got,†said Alice Alaso (Soroti).
Members were of the opinion that although it was good to put up buildings, it was appropriate to renovate old ones in the short run to alleviate the soldiers’ plight.
Ends
The venture, designed to solve the army’s housing problems, cannot take-off as debate rages on whether to rehabilitate old barracks or build new houses.
According to information before the defence and internal affairs committee, the whereabouts of the sh10b raised through accumulated deductions on soldiers’ housing allowances is also in question.
At a meeting yesterday, committee chairman Simon Mayende told MPs that a senior officer who took MPs on a tour of Magamaga barracks a few months ago had been temporarily retired for expressing his opinion on the matter.
The officer, whom Mayende declined to name, said low-ranking soldiers were for the renovation of old structures because it was cost-effective and could be done in a shorter time.
The MPs were irked to learn that only one of the five proposed barracks was worked on using the sh10b and the rest of the money was scattered on items not agreed upon.
“These soldiers’ money in housing allowances was cut with promises to build them descent barracks. We need to know where this sh10b for five barracks went, whether there was a policy decision to change this money from the barracks to another item, and whether value for money was got,†said Alice Alaso (Soroti).
Members were of the opinion that although it was good to put up buildings, it was appropriate to renovate old ones in the short run to alleviate the soldiers’ plight.
Ends