{UAH} Katumba orders UPDF officers off politics-we wait and see if it works out for this

Katumba orders UPDF officers off politics

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Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Katumba Wamala, at a recent function at Mubende Rehabilitation Centre in Mubende District recently. PHOTO BY DOMINIC BUKENYA 

By MARTINS E. SSEKWEYAMA

Posted  Saturday, August 8  2015 at  01:00

In Summary

Directive. The order also restrains soldiers from picking any party cards

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MASAKA.

The Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Katumba Wamala, has ordered all serving officers and men of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) not to meddle in political campaigns for the 2016 general election.

In his stern warning, Gen Katumba asked all UPDF soldiers to strictly adhere to the existing laws governing the army.
"The CDF has cautioned the officers not to dare engage in politics at all and anybody who breaks the law will be dealt with because this is an order," Lt Col Paddy Ankunda, the UPDF Spokesperson, told Saturday Monitor.
Lt Col Ankunda said the order goes further to restrain soldiers from picking any party cards.

Despite Gen Katumba's directive which Lt Col Ankunda said was issued some days ago and took immediate effect, there are reports of soldiers violating it to drum up political support for their preferred candidates.

Gen Katumba's directive comes in the wake of an incident last Sunday when Brig Elly Kayanja told guests at a thanksgiving ceremony for the Kyotera County MP, Mr Haruna Kasolo, in Rakai District that no matter what the UPDF Act says on prohibiting soldiers from engaging in partisan politics, he would campaign for President Museveni who has already picked nomination forms to be the NRM party's flag bearer in next year's elections.

In his assertion, Brig Kayanja said his action to break the law was embedded in his love for the NRM he fought for and that nothing would deter him from canvassing votes for the party's preferred presidential candidate.
"I belong to the NRM and there is no way I can betray President Museveni," he said.

Asked what action will be taken against Brig Kayanja for defying the UPDF Act, Lt Col Ankunda in a rather sarcastic response asked whether he (Kayanja) had stood up on the podium and made the statement publicly.

"Anyway, the law is very clear and we are on the lookout for all defiant serving officers. We shall handle them administratively," Lt Col Ankunda said.

Brig Kayanja would be joining Lt Col Anthony Kyakabale, who recently returned from exile and started canvassing support for Mr Museveni's candidature in the forthcoming elections.
The former coordinator of intelligence services, Gen David Sejusa, whom the UPDF has not officially retired, is also in politics campaigning against the NRM under The Democratic Alliance, a joint cooperation of the Opposition parties .

Updf act

Article 208 (1) of the Constitution provides that the national army shall be 'non-partisan" as well as "subordinate to the civilian authority".
Section 99 of the UPDF Act 2005, bars a serving army officer from seeking a political appointment or engaging in partisan politics.

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