Africa-Press – Uganda. Appearing before the parliamentary joint committee on legal and defence affairs on Wednesday, the veterans — led by Willy Turinawo — said they feel abandoned by fellow comrades who now hold positions of influence.
The committee is currently scrutinising the UPDF Act Amendment Bill, 2025, which among other proposals, seeks to improve the welfare and pensions of serving and retired army personnel.
“It is unfortunate that the pension of only Shs 3,000 we have been receiving can’t even be mentioned in public,” said Hajj Moses Tabula Mayinja, chairperson of the Rubaga Veterans.
“People have been getting curses because that money gets deducted at the bank before we can even touch it.”
Turinawo, chairperson of the NRM Veterans League, highlighted a stark disparity in pension earnings between different groups of ex-combatants.
“I am grateful that we’ve presented our pressing issue in the UPDF Bill,” he said.
“But our concern is for those soldiers who retired between 1992 and 1995. They are getting Shs3,000, yet their colleagues are receiving Shs 300,000. How can we explain this?”
The lawmakers listening in were visibly shocked and called for urgent redress.
Bugweri County MP Abdul Katuntu demanded that UPDF representatives in Parliament take immediate steps to resolve the issue.
“To imagine that people who fought in the bush and were employed by this government are still getting Shs 3,000 – do they even go to the bank for it?” he said.
“Our colleagues from UPDF should go back for an in-house meeting and address this injustice. It should not be heard of again.”
Legal committee chairperson Baka Mugabi agreed, saying: “We are in concurrence that the situation has been bad for you, and rightly so. You did a good job bringing peace to this country, and this is not how you should be treated.”
Bubulo West MP Peter Werikhe also weighed in with disbelief.
“My mother was a Grade One teacher and now at 96 years, she’s earning Shs190,000. What is this I’m not understanding? Which government is this one that leaves people at Shs3,000 from 1992 to date?”
The UPDF Act Amendment Bill, currently under scrutiny, also seeks to restructure and re-establish the courts martial within the Defence Forces as per Article 129(1)(d) of the Constitution.
It aims to define their jurisdiction, outline a clear path for appeals, and set out exceptional circumstances under which civilians may be tried under military law.
But for the veterans, any legal restructuring will ring hollow if it does not address what they see as the most urgent matter: dignified compensation for their role in the liberation struggle.
“We did not go to the bush for fortune, but we didn’t fight to be humiliated either,” said one veteran outside the committee room, his frustration echoed by many others who still wait for recognition, not just in words, but in their paychecks.
For More News And Analysis About Uganda Follow Africa-Press
