In a veiled reference to former coordinator of intelligence organs Gen. David Sejusa, the UPDF Chief of Defense Forces Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala has reiterated that army retirements are not done through courts of law.
Addressing over 1500 retiring soldiers at the Land Forces headquarters in Bombo on Friday afternoon, Gen. Katumba emphasized that procedures are well laid out through which service officers are duly retired.
“Some of you run to the media while others go to courts of law seeking to be retired. You don’t need to go to court but just go through the right procedure if you want to retire,” Gen. Katumba urged.
“Let us be systematic and honor the values of the institution because it is not through the courts of law or media that you were recruited into the army.”
Gen Sejusa is currently pursuing a High Court declaration that he is no longer a serving member of the national army, having been denied his salary and stripped of his uniform, guns and other perks of an officer of his rank.
The Chief of the Defense Forces said that officers should at all times be proud of the UPDF which has made them what they are.
He noted that badmouthing the army through the media and other channels will not help anything, advising them to pick the right procedures to air out their complaints.
“You can put in your request to retire from the army but it is not automatic that you will be left to go. The army can consider other factors and say no to your retirement,” Gen .Katumba urged.