At least 162 UPDF officers including five generals are to retire from the active service of the Ugandan army.
This week, the UPDF Chieftaincy of Pension and Gratuity commenced the retirement sensitisation and documentation exercise of senior officers under batch 13 B at the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy (NCOA) Jinja.
The officers including five generals, 36 colonels, 82 Lieutenant Colonels and 41 Majors will officially retire on April, 30, 2024.
The generals include former chairman of the General Court Martial, Maj Gen Fred Tolit who also served as the country’s defence advisor in South Africa, Brig Gen Eugene Ssebugwawo, the cooordinator of Disaster Preparedness at the Office of the Prime Minister, Brig Emmanuel Rwashande, the UPDF Chief of Civil-Military Cooperation, Brig Gen Jessy Kamunanwire, the Police Human Resource Director and Brig Max Gumisiriza, the former commandant of the peace support centre in Ssingo.
Speaking at the commencement of the sensitization and documentation exercise, the Deputy Chief of Personnel and Administration Brig Godfrey Kawesa Kigozi urged the retirees to use this retirement stretch of their life diligently by sticking to their retirement plan and keeping an active connection with the UPDF serving comrades.
He also reminded them that retirement is not rejection from the forces but giving them a chance to engage in other economic activities in a civilian way.
Brig Kigozi cautioned them that it is not easy to adjust from command position but, they should be ready to abide by their respective community authorities.
He encouraged them not to be afraid to engage in community leadership through Local Councils and Parliamentary Seats as long as they do not promote vices like sectarianism, segregation, and tribalism among others.
Col Deborah Nayebare Deputy Chief of Pension and Gratuity assured the retirees not to worry about the security of their pension remunerations as the government waved off any form of tax.
The Commandant of the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy in Jinja, Col Robert Rutayinama congratulated the officers upon reaching the milestone in their UPDF career journey and encouraged the retirees to embrace retirement with positive emotions, not as a punishment and encouraged them to wisely invest their hard-earned pension and gratuity.
