Government is set to revise the salaries of Uganda People’s Defence Forces(UPDF) soldiers at all ranks, according to a source at the Ministry of Defence. The least paid soldier at the rank of Private will earn shs1.5 million and this is expected to go upwards depending on the ranks.
The development comes after government realized that UPDF soldiers are some of the least paid with many earning below shs500,000.
In the new salary structure, a Captain will earn shs1.5 million whereas the rest of the ranks between Private and Captain will also be paid within the bracket. Currently, a private earns less than Shs350,000 while a captain has been earning Shs670,000.
The other Ugandan army ranks between Private and Captain include Lance Corporal currently earn Shs310,000, Corporal Shs314,000, Sergeant Shs321,000, Staff Sergeant Shs341,000, Warrant Officer I Shs4000,000, Warrant Officer II Shs450,000, Second Lieutenant Shs 520,000 and Lieutenant Shs600,000.
The report also suggests that ranks Major to Brigadier will also get a salary increment to at least Shs10m for the highest ranked, down from about Shs 2 million. Also proposed is the increment in the salaries of the Generals, from about Shs4m to Shs 15m, the source reveals.
Parliament has been made aware of the new structures especially the one of Generals and has been drafted into the financial year. However, new salaries for the lower ranks of Private to Captain are set to be effected in the next financial year, when government intends to increase the salaries of all workers.
Regarding the issue of welfare, the report suggests that government will take over the education of children of army personnel by ensuring that there is a standard school in every army barracks as well as a hospital.
The report indicates that army personnel should use the salary for other needs rather than spend it on education and health care of their children.
“The army must have everything of their own, schools from kindergarten to University and well equipped hospitals to cater to the health needs of the personnel and their families,” the report suggests.
This report about the new salary structure will be tabled in sittings of the High Command and the Army Council for adoption although no specific date has been set.
President Yoweri Museveni has occasionally praised the national army for defending the country at all costs despite being one of the least paid civil servants.
“UPDF is an example that works with little resources but provides service for the people,” Museveni said last month while passing out 2,590 Local Defence Unit (LDU) personnel at Olilim Training School in Palam Sub-county, Ngariam County in Katakwi District.
(Reported by vanguardnews)