{UAH} “I know why I was demoted as CDF and this is why” – Gen. Katumba finally speaks out.

On Monday night, President Museveni dropped Gen Katumba Wamala as Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and replaced him with Gen David Muhoozi who was promoted from a lower rank of Maj Gen skipping the rank of Lt Gen to become a four-star general. The reshuffle also saw 13 other senior army officers given new positions of command and administration. Daily Monitor's RISDEL KASASIRA interviewed the outgoing CDF who will hand over office to Gen Muhoozi on Tuesday next week. Gen Katumba talks about how President Museveni told him that he was going to be dropped. However, he did not divulge details of the appointing authority's reasons for dropping him. When asked whether he sees his new position of State minister for works as a demotion, Gen Katumba says he values service to his country, not the office he holds. At the age of 60, he says he plans his retirement in the next three to five years. Talking on a wide range of issues, Gen Katumba also says it's high time the Somali took charge of their security. Uganda is one of the countries contributing peacekeeping forces to Somalia. He also talks about his achievements and regrets that he is leaving office when the soldiers' welfare, especially accommodation, has not improved. Below are excerpts.

As you leave office next week after your three-year tenure as Chief of Defence Forces, what have been your key achievements?
Three years is not a very long time, especially when you are dealing with an institution like UPDF. But one of the things we have been able to get off the table is our doctrine– the framework within which we use to make decisions, including military operations. We have maintained a Force with high discipline, which is our backbone. Working with police, we were able to secure the [February 2016] elections. The country went through elections without a hitch, much as there was a lot of excitement. We have been able to effect and start a clear retirement process, which had started becoming an issue. Many people had started asking; why doesn't UPDF retire people. We were able to recruit many young soldiers. We have been able to stay focus on operations both internally and externally to the extent that now, we now export peace. We did that in South Sudan and Somalia. These are things that I feel proud to be part of. And, as I leave now, I can confidently say that this country is peaceful and stable.

What about those things that you regret having not done?
Something that I'm leaving with a heavy heart is the welfare of the soldiers, especially their accommodation. I feel this is something we haven't done well. It's not that we don't know what is happening, but because of budget constraints. Also, the salary scale is still low, especially for the low [rank] soldiers. These are the two things I feel dissatisfied with.

People say transferring you from being CDF to State minister is a demotion!
People are entitled to their opinions. None of my positions I have ever held was given to me because of public opinion. It's the appointing authority which has been assessing my capabilities and how I perform my duties. He [Commander-in-Chief] has moved me from one duty to another for good reasons. I'm very, very appreciative of the way my career has grown.

For me, it's not about status. It's about duty and performance to make my country better. Whatever job I'm given, I will dive into it in the interest of making my country move forward. Even when I was moved to the police, people were asking why I was being moved. They reached the extent of saying that the President feared me and that that's why he was 'removing' me from the army and sending me to the police. When I was taken back to the army, people again complained. They were asking why I was being removed from the Police which they said I had stabilised.

Why you?
I think sometimes people go sentimental. But it's not only me. People normally speculate. I wish people don't speculate because when such transfers are made, there are always prior discussions.

Are you saying you discussed your transfer with the President before he announced it?
Yes, at this level, we did. I know how it came about and why.

Which reason did he give you?
[Laughs]. It's between me and my Commander-in-Chief.

People say it could be a result of you distancing yourself from UPDF attack on King Mumbere's palace in Kasese
No, no, no, no. What is happening these days is that social media puts out a narrative and people tend to believe it. In the parliamentary committee, I was asked by Hon. Mubarak Munyagwa whether I was in Kasese at that time. I told him that there was no need for me to be in Kasese because the level of operation was of low intensity, which didn't call for a whole CDF to be in Kasese. I also told him that the officer who was on ground is well-trained and sharp. I didn't need to micromanage.

You have got a reputation of being level-headed and conscious army officer. Why would the army you command carry out deadly attacks on the king's palace under your watch?
I wouldn't want to be accused of sub judice. The issue is before court and I wouldn't want to discuss it.

What about those who say you were a powerless CDF, not assertive and that even you failed to discipline soldiers who were involved in dubious business deals?
You are getting those reports from civilians. Talk to my soldiers and they will tell you…. You remember what we did to those soldiers involved in the sale of food in Somalia? Once in so many years, we have had people dismissed and demoted. What more assertiveness do you want? People say I'm calm person. Yes, I can convey my message without being brutal.

Now that you have been moved to the Ministry of Works, is there a possibility that you might go back to the army or you are planning to retire?
I'm now 60 and for a General [under UPDF rules], you retire at 65. I, therefore, have three to five years to retire. I have been seconded to the Ministry of Works and I don't see myself coming back to the army after my tour of duty there [Works ministry]. It would make a lot of sense to me as a person to retire after that time. I would retire very contented with the way I have progressed in the career and as a person in life.
I joined the army in 1979 and in 1980, I was a Lieutenant. Every soldier joins the army dreaming to be a General. My dream has been achieved. What more should I ask for? I have gone to the battles. I have led soldiers. I have led officers. I have held positions of responsibility. And luckily, I might be retire without losing a leg or an arm. There are many soldiers without limbs in Mubende [UPDF Casualty Wing] and yet we have been at the same frontline. I have nothing to be discontented about.

You are talking about battles fought and this reminds of reports that in mid-1990s the Sudanese war planes hit your positions when you were 4th Division commander and that you got lost for four days!
They did bomb. They would make explosives, put them in a drum and roll them from the plane targeting our positions. These explosives were deadly. They would create big blasts and big holes on ground. We didn't disappear. It was our communication that was affected. Some people thought we had died. But we were there.

I have seen a photo of you, the late Maj Gen James Kazini, Gen Salim Saleh and the late Gen Aronda [Nyakairima] taken probably in early 1990s at the battle field. What a coincidence that you eventually all became UPDF bosses?
Gen Kazini was a combatant. Gen Saleh was combatant. Gen Aronda was a combatant. On that day, we were fighting in Kaya. It was by coincidence that we all became UPDF bosses.

Some people say you were appointed CDF because you saved Gen Saleh's life in 1980 when he was arrested by UNLA soldiers after Yoweri Museveni had gone to the bush?
My promotions and appointments have all been based on merit. I don't have a Godparent in the forces. I came from Ssese [Island], Gen Saleh comes from Mbarara [western Uganda]. It's my discipline, commitment and work I do that has made me what I am. I don't complain whenever I'm given work. If I had gone to police with a negative attitude, I wouldn't have made any impact.

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"When a man is stung by a bee, he doesn't set off to destroy all beehives"

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