SALARY DELAYS: UPDF calls for patience as AMISOM troops go nine months without allowances

The Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) has urged the AMISOM Ugandan contingent troops to hang in there as it processes mechanisms to pay their nine-month allowance arrears.

It is understood that the Ugandan troops have not received their allowances since April 2021, including allowances for troops deployed under Uganda Battle Group 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34.

Recently, some media reports had suggested that the troops especially those of UGABAG30 had expressed discontent over delayed payment and that these had accused UPDF of ‘stealing’ their money.

However, the UPDF, in a statement released on Sunday, January 9, 2022 denied the allegations as untrue.

“Alleged complaints by some soldiers of UGABAG 30, as reported by some sections of the media that their allowances were ‘stolen’ by UPDF are baseless and unfortunate,” UPDF said in a statement.

The UPDF noted that the Ugandan government and Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs have established mechanisms with the mission funders, African Union, on how the troops’ arrears are always cleared.

“The same processes and mechanisms are being followed to have the unpaid allowances cleared,” UPDF noted.

The UPDF urged all the troops to exercise patience as it works with AU to have the issue sorted.

“We urge all the affected troops to maintain discipline and patience since the process of settling their arrears is already on and they will certainly be paid for the noble service,”