Museveni to see off retiring UPDF generals today
President Museveni will today (Monday) officiate at a function at which several UPDF generals will officially be retiring from active services in the army.
A total of 16 generals cleared by the army for retirement will be awarded certificates today afternoon and according to a message by the Presidential Press Secretary Linda Nabusayi, President Museveni will be the chief guest.
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“HE the President will today bid farewell and host retiring UPDF generals to a dinner at 3 pm,” read the message in part.
Unlike other lower ranks whose send-off from active service of the army is always held at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Mbuya and the various barracks around the country, the generals will be hosted at State House in Entebbe by the Commander in Chief of the armed forces.
The UPDF generals to be retired today include Gen. Ivan Koreta, Gen Joram Mugume, Maj. Gen. Nathan Mugisha, Maj Gen Sam Turyagyenda, Brig. Ramadan Kyamulesire, Maj Gen Timothy Sabiiti Mutebile, and Brig. Charles Angulo Wacha.
Others are Brig. Sam Kakuru, Brig. Matthew Ssewankambo, Maj Gen.Jimmy Wills Byarugaba, Maj Gen Sam Wasswa Mutesasira, Brig. Gyagenda Kibirango, Brig.Tom Tumuhairwe, Maj.Gen. Ambrose Musinguzi, Brig. Mulondo, Brig.John Mulindwa.
The 16 generals retiring today will be the biggest of senior officers above the rank of brigadier to retire from active services of the Ugandan army in a single batch since 1986.
UPDF retirement process
The UPDF Conditions and Terms of Service provide that it’s illegal to keep army officers in active service once they clock a certain age but are not promoted to the next rank.
For example, it’s illegal to have an officer at the rank of captain or major, aged 50, in active service.
At the age of 40, if a captain is not promoted to major, the army must retire the officer.
Regulation 28, Cap 307 of the terms of service specifies at which age an officer should be promoted to another rank if not be retired from the service but according to army sources, the UPDF continues to flout section of its own regulations.
From the rank of Lieutenant to Captain, one can apply for early retirement at 40 years, while a Major can leave service at 45.
A Lieutenant Colonel in the UPDF can retire at 47, while a Colonel’s retirement age is 51.
From the rank of 2nd Lieutenant to General, an officer can rightly apply for retirement after 14 years of service, while the lower ranks can retire after nine years.
