The Deputy Chief of Defence Forces and Inspector General, Lieutenant General Sam Okiding, has urged the new General Manager of Defence Forces Shop Uganda Limited (DFSUL), Colonel Deus Taremwa, to strengthen the institution and ensure it fulfils its strategic welfare mandate for personnel of the Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (UPDF).
Lt Gen Okiding made the remarks while presiding over the handover ceremony of the Defence Forces Shop General Manager at the Land Force Headquarters in Bombo, where Brigadier General Metland Bitumbika handed over office to Col Taremwa.
He commended Brig Gen Bitumbika, who is due for retirement, for his professionalism, dedication and exemplary leadership during his tenure, describing his record of service as exemplary.
“Take this as a critical welfare function of the UPDF so that the strategic objectives of the DFSUL are achieved,” he said.
The Defence Forces Shop Uganda Limited, a flagship welfare initiative of the UPDF, has steadily expanded its network across the country to improve access to affordable essential goods and services for serving personnel, veterans and their families.
From a single outlet, the institution has expanded to 13 branches nationwide, with plans to establish outlets at all division headquarters, brigades and major units.
Established as a duty-free outlet for personnel of the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MoDVA) and the UPDF, DFSUL provides a wide range of duty-free products whose taxes are offset through government support, enabling the shop to offer goods at subsidised prices.
In an earlier interview, Brig Gen Bitumbika said DFSUL was established to address the welfare needs of soldiers, initially focusing on supplying affordable construction materials after identifying housing as one of the greatest challenges facing personnel.
“We started with building materials because we realised that many soldiers needed support to construct their homes,” he said.
“Today, many soldiers are becoming homeowners because they can access materials at affordable prices.”
He noted that as the needs of personnel evolved, DFSUL expanded its product range to include household consumables and other essential commodities.
Brig Gen Bitumbika added that DFSUL has continued to strengthen partnerships with private sector suppliers to ensure a reliable supply of quality goods.
He thanked the UPDF leadership, particularly the Chief of Defence Forces, for the confidence placed in him and expressed gratitude to the Defence Forces Shop Board, staff and managers of army shops across the country for their teamwork and commitment.
In his remarks, Col Taremwa thanked the UPDF leadership for entrusting him with the responsibility of leading Defence Forces Shop Uganda Limited.
He pledged to build on the strong foundation laid by his predecessor by working closely with staff and stakeholders to improve efficiency, effectiveness and service delivery.
Col Taremwa also paid tribute to Brig Gen Bitumbika for laying a solid foundation for the continued growth of Defence Forces Shop Uganda Limited.
The handover ceremony was attended by the Joint Staff Headquarters Brigade Group Commander, Major General Dr Lucky Joseph Kidega; the Chief of Staff Land Forces, Brigadier General Chris Bagonza; the Director Inspectorate, Brigadier General RK Kagyenyi; the Director of Records, Brigadier General DR Ndyabagye; and the Joint Staff Formal Education, Sports and Culture, Brigadier General Richard Karemire.
