President Museveni has clarified the role of Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Members of Parliament.
Speaking at the election of new UPDF representatives to the 12th Parliament during a Defence Council meeting held at the Land Forces headquarters in Bombo on Wednesday, Museveni said the army MPs are expected to monitor developments in Parliament and report critical issues to the UPDF leadership.
He explained that the presence of UPDF representatives in Parliament is meant to provide early warning on decisions that may negatively affect the country, citing the recent decision by civilian MPs to increase their salaries as an example of an issue that could have been addressed earlier.
Museveni tasked the newly elected UPDF MPs to closely monitor the implementation of key government programmes, including the Parish Development Model, free education, road construction and immunisation. While noting progress in preventive healthcare, he said challenges remain in curative health services.
The President thanked the UPDF High Command for nominating the officers and emphasized the importance of leaders who focus on identifying and solving citizens’ practical needs. He said this approach has guided the National Resistance Movement (NRM) since the 1960s.
Museveni referred to the Runyankore concept of okukyenura, which he described as the deliberate identification and resolution of people’s practical challenges. He said this philosophy enabled the NRM to restore discipline in the army, reject sectarian politics, eliminate shortages of essential commodities, rebuild infrastructure and roll out immunisation against six killer diseases by 1996, earning the Movement widespread public support.
He further highlighted government programmes aimed at uplifting the poor, including Entandikwa, Universal Primary Education, army schools, NAADS, Operation Wealth Creation and the Parish Development Model, which he said is currently yielding positive results at the grassroots.
Museveni also reiterated the NRM’s longstanding objective of ensuring that Ugandans freely choose their leaders through one person, one vote by secret ballot.
He revealed that irregularities, including the infiltration of about 2.7 million votes, were detected during the 2021 general elections, prompting his push for biometric verification systems, which he noted were not fully utilised.
During the meeting, Lt Gen Sam Okiding, Lt Gen James Mugira, Lt Gen Sam Kavuma, Brig Gen David Gonyi, Maj Gen Henry Masiko, Maj Gen James Kinalwa and Brig Gen Joseph Ssemwanga were elected as male UPDF representatives to Parliament. Col Knight Ikiriza, Col Sylvia Meeme and Col Christine Situma Nekesa were elected as female UPDF MPs.
Museveni commended the UPDF and other security agencies for maintaining security during the recently concluded elections. Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama congratulated the UPDF officers for their discipline during the voting process and urged all stakeholders to embrace unity as the election period comes to an end.
During the same ceremony, the President commissioned three officer cadets presented by Maj Gen James Kinalwa. The commissioned officers are Bazalaki Timothy, who trained in Sri Lanka, and Akoi Moses and Piloya Vivian, who trained in Tanzania.
