Alleged robbery, paid for murders, fake arms deals, torture are some of the indifferent scandals that have rocked the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces this year seeming curtailing their gallant work of defending the country.
Now the biggest challenge the national army is facing is the panic going to unprecedented levels after all the army uniform designs were reportedly taken over by thugs and wrong elements.
READ: How Army plot to ‘kill’ President Museveni was foiled
This has even prompted drastic actions including recalling all the five types of uniforms from the soldiers.
TheUgandan understands that the Deputy Chief of Defense Forces Gen. Charles Angina, also in charge of the army’s uniforms issued a directive, a month ago to have all the attires in the hands of Uganda’s soldiers to be returned to various collection centers.
By press time, Military Police were currently implementing the directive.
Our highly placed military sources indicate that the decision to recall the military uniforms was reached after several consultations in the army that went up to the Commander in Chief of the armed forces, Gen. Yoweri Museveni.
The UPDF facing a stiff challenge from “wrong elements” such as those that participated in past rebel activities have been using the old uniforms, a thing that has been a threat to national security.
The army also acknowledges that some groups like musicians and socialites have also abused the UPDF uniform and downgraded them during their musical performances.
This means that the army will use the uniforms for training or eliminated and strict about those who can access the army fatigues.
This directive affects only infantry soldiers as Special Forces, Marines, and Air Force will maintain their uniforms since they have not been intruded.
To be affected
Four types of uniforms especially those the UPDF soldiers wore since 1990s will be withdrawn.
The UPDF Act prohibits illegal use of this uniform and those who break the law risk prosecution.
Section 164 (1) (a) and (b) of the UPDF Act 7,2005 prohibits the manufacture, sale, offer or exposing for sale, wearing or using any uniform supplied to or from authorised for use by the forces or any uniform so nearly resembling it. Violation attracts, on conviction an imprisonment term, not exceeding seven years.
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