UPDF is pro-people's Army

By Naturinda Eliab

On Thursday, May 2, 2013, the Ministry of Defence/ UPDF leadership appeared before Parliamentary Defence Committee in line with their official duties. However, to my surprise, Hon Muwaga Kivumbi cited that “all the top army officers appearing before the committee as hailing from western Uganda, hence the need for a balanced army representative of all regions of Uganda”

However, before I react, I want to say that the UPDF was groomed by the then National Resistance Army. The people who joined at that time were mainly westerners. Therefore, to some extent, if Kivumbi, reads history, he may be quick enough to realise that some of these issues in the Army are due to historical reasons.

Secondly, in regards to the yard stick of names as a reference to mean that one is westerner is baseless. In my Law school at UCU (2012), we had Baganda students and I had a colleague by the name of Mwesigwa Jonathan. So any one who met him at the time, would presumably understand that, Mwesigwa is a Mukiga, when he is actually a Muganda. More so recently, Uganda Industrial Research Institute (March 2, 2013), hosted Guild Leaders and Col Felix Kulayigye represented General Aronda. At the time of questions, one brave youth blamed UPDF for its discrimination in promotions. This student went on to say that Col. Kulayigye was a Munyankole who was being favoured. It must be recalled that this youth was using a yard stick of the name “Kulayigye”. However, truth is good; it was actually found out that Kulayigye is not a westerner. Therefore, this yard stick of names should honestly stop because one day, we may commit mob justice to some of our very own tribemates.

In regards to army top leadership, I wish the army leadership would avail the list of army officers who have been promoted or those heading different departments. The problem with Ugandans is that, whenever an issue concerning the army comes up, the immediate names of Generals, Aronda, Elly Tumwine, Tinyefuza, Salim Saleh suffice. However, I think having had an advantage of interacting with the army leadership, this is not true.

I must also say that, there are other officers like Col Sentogo, Major General Oketta, Lt. Gen Andrew Gutti  to mention but a few who are at the apex of army decisions. The UPDF is a pro-people’s army and this perception within us should stop and re-focus on issues of national development, if we want to develop. Interestingly, about two years ago (May 2010), one daily ran a story praising the UPDF under General Aronda’s regime as one of the best institutions in Uganda. I think the brevity of those researchers should not be watered down because they had also different reasons they were considering.

Let’s remove this perception that the UPDF top leadership is for westerners

The Writer works with EN Legal Consultants