The army publicist Brig. Richard Karemire has rubbished an online report alleging that the Commander in Chief (CiC) has ordered a probe into the mishandling of soldiers’ allowances who have been implementing the COVID-19 guidelines.
The report suggests that Gen. Museveni ordered his son Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba to investigate a high-ranking army officer who swindled relief items for UPDF soldiers.
The allegations further say unnamed top military officer swindled the relief items that were meant to help over 20,000 UPDF and that the said money was meant to purchase items like fuel, maize flour, Rice, Sugar, among others, to be given to soldiers who participated in the covid-ig fight for two months.
They further allege in the story that each officer was meant to receive Shs2o,000 daily as ‘coronavirus allowance’, something which they claim did not happen.
“The soldiers complained to Chief of Defence Forces Gen David Muhoozi who raised the matter before the President for final. action. Intelligence sources say after.
“The soldiers complained to Chief of Defence Forces Gen David Muhoozi who raised the matter before the President for final action. Intelligence sources say after President got information, he instructed Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba to probe the matter and give him a report in one month for final action,” the publication claimed.
UPDF calls on the public to treat the report with deserved contempt as no ‘swindling’ happened and no investigation is ongoing.
“We refute fake information by “Spy Reports” alleging misappropriation of soldiers’ food and allowances during this period of anti COVID- 19 enforcement,” said Brig Gen Richard Karemire, the Defense spokesperson.
He added that “No Senior UPDF leader has even received such a report as alleged, and therefore there is no investigation taking place at all.”
Karemire says during this period, soldiers who do not normally get operation food, are supplied food in order to limit their movements and those of their families as they move to markets outside the barracks.
He explains: “This is aimed at limiting contacts and risks of contracting COVID-19.