President Yoweri Museveni has called upon all Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) commanders, officers and men to remember that the army is pro-people.
The President, who continued his countrywide tour of army barracks at the UPDF 2nd Division at Makenke, Mbarara on Saturday, also added that the army ‘supports the principles of Democracy, Pan-Africanism, Socio-economic Transformation and Patriotism.’
On March 22, President Museveni, also the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, started his countrywide tour of army barracks at the First Infantry Division in Kakiri, Wakiso District before heading to the 3rd Division in Karamoja Sub-region and then the UPDF 4th Division in Gulu.
In Moroto District, Karamoja Region, the President urged soldiers to wisely use the loans they acquire from the army’s Wazalendo Savings and Credits Cooperative Society.
“When you borrow money, you should use it for the construction of rentals near your trading centre and build a personal house when you are about to retire,” the President told the soldiers on Sunday, March 31.
On Saturday, April 6, the President reiterated the army’s desire to support soldiers who face legal challenges.
“We shall beef up each division with at least one lawyer to offer pro-bono services especially on issues of land,” The President promised.
According to Adolf Mwesige, the Minister of Defence, Museveni’s tour of army barracks is part of his work as Commander-in-Chief.
“Just like a President normally visits villages to see people’s problems, it is normal for the Commander-in-Chief to visit barracks to see how soldiers are. There is nothing strange about it,” Minister Mwesigye told a local daily recently.
On Sunday he visited the officers of the Armoured Brigade in Masaka.
