UGANDA:Museveni's mobilisation targets army veterans

MUSEVENI'S 'MOBILISATION' TARGETS ARMY VETERANS

           "Those who want to destabilize our country do not know our capacity. Once we mobilize, you can’t survive."

   Museveni while addressing investors in Mukono - 9/3/2019.

The above message was aimed at Rwanda's Kagame who is accusing Museveni of supporting armed Rwandan dissidents.

In June 2018 during the burial of the late Hon. Abiriga, Museveni issued empty threats of mobilizing Reservists to tackle the growing insecurity.
        “The sub-committee on National Security, under the chairmanship of the CDF, yesterday decided to recommend to me the call up of some reserves to deploy wherever criminals may manifest themselves. Remember we have a reserve of 12 million."

On June 14, 2018 this website responded with an article titled; MUSEVENI DOES NOT HAVE RESERVES. https://changeofguards.blogspot.com/2018/06/uganda-museveni-doesnt-have-even-10000.html

Indeed, those reservists have never been mobilized because they don't exist.  Even the dreaded Gen. Kalekyezi's Crime Preventers were just a branch of a few hundreds.  Instead, he deployed the army that had taken over the policing of Kampala and its environ.  Last week he passed out 6,500 paramilitary squads dubbed Local Defence units (LDUs) whom he plans to replace the army on the city streets.  Where are his 12 million reservists???

The issue of paying army veterans always comes up whenever Museveni's hold on power is faced with uncertainty.  It usually comes up during the elections season or when faced with a military threat like is the case now with the standoff with Rwanda.  It also comes up whenever it is a budget season to justify the Ministry of Defences lion's share of the national budget.  It is in this regard that the army has stepped up the propaganda aimed at hoodwinking the army veterans.

Here below are the details of the recycled but modified usual  scheme;
"Shs500 billion pension arrears: UPDF to verify veterans, servicemen

The army has started a nation-wide verification exercise of all unpaid ex-servicemen.
Mr Adolf Mwesige, the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs in a Wednesday statement said the exercise will target unpaid military veterans and beneficiaries of deceased soldiers who lack necessary documents.  According to the Defence Ministry, there are at least 79,084 army veterans who have not received their pension and gratuity arrears worth Shs500 billion. The verification exercise that starts on Thursday will end on April 13, in 10 zones across Uganda.
Regional zonal leaders have been appointed to work closely with the existing 39 zonal pension officers for efficiency.

Maj Dick Kaija Kirya will oversee the registration and verification exercise in Rwenzori region, Maj Fred Kasimoni Mushambo will oversee Ankole/Kigezi region, Maj Samuel Ssekamwa is in charge of West Buganda while Maj Robert Lutaaya will be in charge of East Buganda.
Capt Samuel Kabiseku (Busoga), Maj Martin Komakech (Acholi/Lango), Maj Fred Mayeku( Bugisu/Bukedi), Capt Moses Emeju(Teso), Capt Mike Jackson (Karamoja) whereas Maj Milly Anhulima lead the West Nile exercise.

All unpaid ex-servicemen including living veterans, estates of veterans deceased in retirement, estates of officers and militants deceased while in active service have also been asked to liaise with the regional team leaders and zonal UPDF pension officers for assistance.  Claimants for death pension and gratuities, executioners or administrators of the estates have been asked to obtain certified letters of administration.  Those to be paid under ex gratia category include documented living veterans of World War II as in May 2010, Uganda Army, Uganda National Liberation Army and documented Not Yet Available as in May 2010.

Mr Mwesigye has tasked all Resident District Commissioners, Local Council V Chairpersons, Local Government officials and District Internal Security Officers to ensure a successful implementation of the exercise."

As you may note, the last time the veterans were documented was in 2010 amidst uncertainty over heated election campaigns. Such so-called verification and documentation of army veterans is nothing but a means of identifying and renewing of a security monitoring mechanism on these veterans.  Also, they are trying to identify those that can be recalled into active service in the event they are to fight with Rwanda.  Most painful is that the man behind the scheme, Col. Bright Kanyantoke Rwamirama who is the defacto Minister of Defence,  as the long serving Director of Finance in Museveni's army stole billions and billions that was meant for the soldiers' welfare.

INFORMATION IS POWER AND THE PROBLEM OF UGANDA IS MUSEVENISM