The Army Council is currenting convening to elect new representatives of the UPDF in the 12th parliament, the Nile Post has learnt.
President Museveni, who is also the commander in chief of the UPDF will preside over the function to be held at the Land Forces headquarters in Bombo barracks.
The Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba and other senior officers in the UPDF are also in attendance.
Contestants for the 10 UPDF slots in parliament are nominated by the High Command and later sent to the Commander in Chief for approval and the Defence/ army council does the voting.
Of the 10 slots, three UPDF representatives must be female.
The Army Council includes members of the High Command, senior officers, directors of services, and commanding officers of brigades and battalions.
The current army MPs include Gen David Muhoozi, Gen Katumba Wamala, Gen Wilson Mbadi, Gen(rtd) Peter Elwelu, Gen James Mugira, Gen Sam Kavuma, Maj.Gen Henry Masiko, Brig Charity Bainababo, Col Dr Victoria Nekesa and Lt Col Dr.Jeniffer Alanyo .
The army MPs in the 11th parliament recently gave back to the UPDF by donating state of the art equipment to the Special Forces Command (SFC)’s Dr. Ronald Bata Memorial Hospital in Nsamizi, Entebbe.
They also donated a fully equipped science laboratory to Gulu Army Senior Secondary School.
The laboratory block, which includes dedicated Biology, Chemistry, and Physics labs, was constructed and furnished at a cost of Shs204 million, collectively raised by the 10 UPDF legislators in the 11th Parliament.
Today's election will be the first ever since the launch of UPDF Establishment 2021, which is a comprehensive document outlining the new structural framework of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) and redefines the hierarchy, responsibilities, and operational command within the armed forces, aligning them with contemporary military standards and strategic needs.
As MPs, the UPDF representatives are mandated to be the ears and eyes of the army and the commander in chief.