UPDF, ISO SPIES IN ROW OVER PENSION

Uganda President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

By RISDEL KASASIRA

KAMPALA.

A row has erupted between the mainstream Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and about 100 soldiers who have been doing espionage in the Internal Security Organisation (ISO).

The row was sparked by contested retirement benefits for the military operatives attached to ISO.

The operatives are soldiers of UPDF but were posted to ISO as intelligence staff for many years. They applied for retirement and sought their retirement benefits from the UPDF. 
However, the UPDF leadership told them they have no retirement package to claim because they have been receiving their gratuity in instalments as operatives under the ISO remuneration system.

“The law is clear. They have been getting gratuity. Every three years, they are given gratuity. They are not entitled to retirement package,” the army spokesperson, Lt Col Paddy Ankunda, said.

However, some of the operatives, who have worked with ISO for more than 20 years, insist they are entitled to gratuity by virtue of being soldiers of the UPDF.

“This is going to set a bad precedent. But we shall go to court and challenge this decision,” one of the operatives, who feared to be named, told Saturday Monitor.

The complaining military operatives are part of the 1,400 UPDF soldiers lined up for retirement in the next one year. The first batch of 503 soldiers was retired last month at a military function at the Land Forces headquarters in Bombo.
Some of the retiring operatives joined ISO in 1986 when the National Resistance Army (now UPDF) took over power. Among the retirees are senior ISO officers, including directors.

The mobile phones for the Director General of ISO, Brig Ronnie Balya were off air and he could not be reached for a comment on whether the protesting operatives have been receiving their gratuity as stated by the UPDF.

However, Mr Jonas Tumwine, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Service, which approves retirement benefits for government employees, said the UPDF operatives are not entitled to retirement benefits if they have been receiving gratuity.

“For us who are permanent and pensionable, we get retirement benefits. But those who are seconded from their mother ministries to work in certain offices get gratuity and gratuity is retirement benefits,” Mr Tumwine said.

CREDIT: DAILYMONITOR