Gulu, (UG):- UPDF officers who recently retired from active forces have been cautioned to desist from gambling and beating their wives at this time they are sent to restart life with the civilian community.
The stern warning was issued by Brig. Gen. Felix Busizoori, the 4th Infantry Division Commander in his remarks at the retirement event of 206 officers from Gulu barracks over the weekend.
“You have been away from your families for so long, and it is going to be a bit of a challenge especially those who may not accommodate the different characters of our women. Please don’t fight,” Brig Busizoori cautioned during the Saturday ceremony.
The division commander further appealed to the retirees to desist from unproductive ventures such as gambling using their retirement package, arguing that during such a period retirees often get overwhelmed with a large amount of money they have never handled before and end up misusing the fund, forgetting it is a one-off.
“Please first cool down and utilize your fund carefully. I appeal to you, to avoid sports betting and lottery. Use the fund to generate income, you have land for agriculture,” he emphasized.
He also warned against careless drinking of alcohol and the dependent syndrome where soldiers were used to getting free supplies such as clothing, food, and medical services, arguing that all the services they used to get have been budgeted in the retirement package to help them reintegrate back home with their families.
“Maintain discipline. The environment you are going to is quite different because you will no longer carry on with the environment of orders, and directives anymore. It’s not applicable outside there, so, be subjective to the authorities you will find in the village and you must respect the leadership structures of the neighbors” he remarked,
Brig Gen Busizoori recalled the first army retirement in 1993, when retirees were given iron sheets only, as the economy was not good enough to give money but commended the forces as right now a retired soldier gets millions of shilling [an amount he couldn’t disclose] which they can invest after army service.
NB: Payment of gratuity to UPDF retirees is in accordance with the law under Article 254(1995 Constitution), the Pension Act Cap 286, and the UPDF Act 2005. It is done by the Chieftaincy of Pension and Gratuity formed in 2015.
On his part, Col. Jackson Kayanja, the Deputy Division Commander, confidently said, “We had enough time to prepare them to reintegrate into the civilian community.”
Meanwhile, Amiri Kamba, the deputy Resident City Commissioner for Layibi-Bardege Division also reiterated the careful use of money otherwise they will risk wasting it on prostitutes in town or on buying land with the dispute.
One of the retirees, Surundo Geoffrey, a retired officer in the rank of a sergeant said in affirmation of the commander’s cautions saying; “It’s true, what is killing most of the soldiers is drunkenness, smoking opium, and having many wives.”
However, he said he is glad his wife supported him in always to stay away from such vices. Secondly, he decided to join Salvation of Jesus Christ which later transformed him to become a church pastor.
“I will retire to my farm project and serve God in the church. Right now, as I speak we have piggery and birds, we have also a banana plantation with coffee and those are my achievements,” Mr. Surundo giggled.
He thanked the UPDF for saving his life by paying for a medical operation worth more than Shs 30 million at Bombo Military Hospital after developing a serious health complication in the bones, a condition that arose from his relentless sacrifice in fighting several wars, especially LRA, DR Central Republic of Congo, and war against Al Shabaab in Somalia.
Mr. Surundo, DailyExpress understands, boasts of retiring to pastoral work in the church, manages his farms, and supports his wife, sergeant Jackline Eyokia, a nursing assistant at Bombo military hospital, who is still in active service with the UPDF, to raise their three children.
Among the 206 retirees from the Gulu 4th Infantry Division barracks were 42 corporals, 15 sergeants, 6 Staff sergeants, 99 private officers, 31 lance corporals, 6 warrant officers class one, and 2 warrant officers class two; both female and men.
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