President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has advised the retiring senior army officers to invest their retirement packages wisely to avoid losses.
Museveni made the appeal at State House Entebbe as he formally retired 11 army generals, who included former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Gen. Kale Kayihura, Lt Gen. James Nakibus Lakara, Maj Gen. Samuel Wasswa Mutesasira, Maj Gen. Joseph Arocha, and Maj Gen. David Wakaalo.
Brig Gen. Austine Kasatwooki Kamanyire, Brig Gen. Stephen Oluka, Brig Gen. Frank Katende Kyambadde, Brig Gen. Emmanuel Kwihangana, Brig Gen. Wilson Muhabuzi, and Brig Gen. Ham Atwooki Kaija are also among those who retired.
The generals join the other 99 senior army officers from the rank of Major to Colonel who retired on August 25 at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters in Mbuya, making a total of 110 senior officers who have retired this year.
The president advised the retirees not to misuse their retirement package by investing in ambitious projects like building schools and hotels.
“You should do something small that you are sure of. Like a man called Nyakana in the Fort Portal area, he has listened to our message, and with 1.2 acres of land, he earns over Shs240 million in a year from 8 cows and poultry eggs, so if you can get 5 acres, this is a lot of land, which can help you to get a lot of income. If you invest in food production, you cannot go wrong,” Museveni emphasised.
Museveni further advised the retirees to become local counsellors for the local people; they will come to you and advise them on what they can do for themselves to improve their household incomes.
On the other hand, President Museveni praised the retirees for belonging to a glorious army like the UPDF and for making their own contribution to the development of Uganda.
The Minister of State for Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon. Jacob Oboth Oboth, thanked President Museveni for his great leadership that has made UPDF a force to be reckoned with.
Gen. Kale Kayihura, who spoke on behalf of other retiring generals, expressed his personal gratitude to the President, general court martial, and other authorities in the UPDF for finally freeing him of all capital offence charges.
“I am the happiest human being on earth now, and today the country is peaceful, secure, and stable, unlike our times when we joined when there was duka duka,” Kayihura noted.
Gen. Kale said that after a long term of service and the achievements the UPDF had made, it was the right time for them to retire and let the young and energetic soldiers take on the mantle of leadership.
The send-off ceremony was also attended by the Minister of State for Veteran Affairs, Hon.Huda Oleru Abason, and the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs Permanent Sectary, Ms. Rosettie Byengoma, among others.
