Prepare Life Beyond Army, Maj. Gen. Kyanda to Retiring UPDF Generals
By : Kyeyune Ali
The UPDF Joint Chief of Staff Maj Gen Leopold Eric Kyanda has called upon the 11 General officers destined for retirement next month to prepare themselves for a life beyond Army.
He said this while launching the documentation and sensitisation exercise of the Generals at the UPDF Joint Headquarters Mbuya on Tuesday.
General Kyanda also appreciated the immense and relentless effort of the retiring Generals to serve the mighty UPDF during all that tireless period of service.
“Retirement/discharge is one of the personnel management functions to Service personnel actualized through proper Administration, Career Management, and finally a decent Exit. To that effect, the UPDF leadership ensures timely briefing on the requirements, procedures, expectations, processing and remittance of funds” Said General Kyanda.
Batch 13A is slated to exit by 30 August 2023 for Senior Officers and Gen Officers on 31 August 20223.
The Joint Chief of staff went ahead to explain to the Generals Retirement as a stage of Voluntary or mandatory exit of active military service and transiting to become a member of reserve force.
He added that, retirement is an institutional way of rejuvenating the forces by replacing the old guards with the young ones.
“It is important to retire because it allows smooth career progression since it opens up space for the juniors to progress in their career, assures the force of continuity, Ushers retirees to the life outside military, enables retirees to bond and network with the civilian community, and enables retirees to invest their retirement package when they are still capable” He outlined.
Kyanda emphasized that halting retirement comes with side effects which include among others: Retirement backlog as result of personnel not exiting the force, Aging force and as a result, reduced performance, stifling talents and career progression, Difficulty to effect the command and control due to lose of morale as personnel may not be promoted (Lack of placement as per the establishment) and therefore, basing on the above, retirement becomes necessary and a reality.
The Generals were reminded that the retirement package has been improved (Salary enhancement). An assurance of a fair living outside Military life.
On Retirement, the Generals are expected to pay much attention but not limited to: Having a good business plan (seek technical advice or use their experience), Avoid test business which they have no idea about, Remain patriotic and keep NRA/UPDF Ideology, Observe always UPDF Constitutional mandate.
Overall, they are expected to Defend the country,
Live in harmony with civilian society, Engage in productive activities and engage in Communal activities.
According to the UPDF act 2005 as amended, the benefits of the bill to the retirees shall include among others: a. Medical care to retirees. b. In case of death, all Generals shall be entitled to full burial rituals that apply to those in active service. While Disability compensation is being addressed.
The president earlier approved the retirement of 11 General officers and 99 senior officers who were documented and sensitized a week ago in Jinja Gadaffi Barracks