Other findings during the course of inquiry
Indiscipline:
The Committee took note of many quarrels and unbecoming behavior among officers. Many of these officers have had quarrels
amongst themselves and extended their quarrels in the public.
The behavior of Brigadiers Steven Kashaka and Henry Tumukunde when they refused to appear before this Committee
is a high degree of indiscipline.
Impunity:
Col Burundi’s abandoning of his command in 3 Div Brig Kashaka’s storming NRC and taking soldiers’ pay without fear of punishment are examples of impunity.
Another example is Maj. Gen. Kazini’s conduct in the way he handled balances from NRC and ASTU.
The repeated misappropriation of balances from 507 Bde by the 2 Div CO Col Potel Kivuna is also a case in point.
6.9 Financial/Quantitative implications of ghosts in UPDF
A simple analysis of the finances involved in the payment of fictitious personnel and/ or money intended for salaries and never
reaching its destination indicates the following:
NRC
Using a figure of 3000 ghost soldiers as evidence given by DOR and OC-NRC Maj Mureeba. In just 3 years it would have cost the Army over 15b/.
Salary for the 3 years is computed as follows:
3000 x 140,3207= (salary of a Pte) x 12 month x 3yrs =15,154,560,0007= Food at 1200/= (scale per day) x 30 days x 3000 x 12 months x 3 yrs =3,888,000,000.
Note if 3000 ghosts were maintained for each year that would mean 19,042,560,000 divided by 3 which would come to
6,347,520,0007= for a single year. The total (food and salary) for 3 years = 19,042,560.000.
The above figure shows the hemorrhage in just one unit. But if extended to all other UPDF regular units and auxiliary forces, the loss is colossal.
6.10. Other Effects of Ghosts Soldiers in UPDF
Undermining the fighting capability of the Army.
Reduced morale of troops due to loss of pay and worsening welfare
Possibility of loss of firearms to the enemy due to the units failing to declare arms which belong to ghost soldiers
Culture of impunity and possible subversion.
7.0- OBSERVATIONS.
In the course of its investigation, the Committee got evidence concerning other matters which are not initially under its Terms of Reference like;
GHQs failure to institute checks and balances
There is non-effective system of Audit of the wage bill of the UPDF and Auxiliary Forces. That is why acquittance rolls are falsified without any query.
• Weak system of crime detection
The UPDF system for detection of crime is very weak i.e. Inspectorate Department, SIB, Counter- Intelligence and
Commissariate have not measured up to their tasks.
Non effective soldiers on the UPDF strength
The continued presence of non-effective soldiers on the strength of the Army has had the following adverse effects:
Inflation of the wage bill
Undermining efficiency and effectiveness of the force.
Command and control is difficult and these results into indiscipline in the force.
Confusion in the rank and file as it is difficult to know who is where.
Interference with the Justice system in the Army
The Committee noted that the justice system of the UPDF is interfered with. Even where crime has been detected, some Army leaders have at times interfered with and subverted the Administration of justice (e.g. Lt Col Mawa’s case where he was accused of robbery on Karuma -Pachwachi road was dropped by the prosecution in the General Court Martial claiming that this was on the express instruction of then COS-Brig Kazini).
Another case in point is the one of 2 Lt Katungi who was arrested on orders of Col Muheesi after Maj Gen Kazini was removed from being Army Commander. The Committee listened to both 2 Lt Katungi and Col Muheesi. The Committee got the impression that 2 Lt Katungi’s arrest was a result of quarrels between Maj Gen Kazini and Col Muheesi.
The Committee notes with concern that there are many other cases like that of Katungi in the Army. On these limited cases that came to the Committee that shows that the administration of Justice in the army is appalling. Junior officers / militants should not be victimized because of the intrigue among senior officers. It is therefore recommended that these cases be thoroughly investigated.
Abandonment of laid down procedures of the Army.
The procedure of declaring occurrences like AWOL, dead , absent are not strictly observed leading to creation of ghosts or non-existent soldiers on the army payroll.
Rejab (Rejoining After Absence) in the Army should be abolished as it encourages indiscipline and is a form of ghost creation except in circumstances to be determined by the High Command.
Transfer of other ranks has continued despite H.E’s Directive due to rampant movement of troops leading to ghosts /double reflection.
The lack of CCF as per establishment in Finance department of UPDF has left Directorate of Finance unchecked in the check and balance on each other.
Lack of proper supervision by CPA and DF
There is lack of proper supervision by CPA and DOR on their clerks and similarly DFs’ oversight role in his Finance Officers is lacking.
7.1 Estimation of UPDF current strengthWorst Case Scenario
UPDF payable strength is 55.626 as of 18th October 2003, out of which 36,307 are reportedly in UPDF infantry Divisions which means 19,319 are in independent units and GHQs.
When a head count was carried out in January 2002 at Aswa Ranch, the strength of 4 Div found on the ground was 2400. This was a shortfall from 7261 who were supposed to be there. Therefore, the ghosts were 4,861.
Taking this figure as representative of the other 4 Divisions, it would imply that the actual strength of all Divisions 5, is 5 Divs x 2400 = 12.000.
An independent units:
If the example of Air Defence is used, where instead of 286 people supposed to be on the ground, the figure was found to be inflated to 1,376 i.e. 300% inflation, that inflationary level when applied on the whole strength of Independent units and GHQs, would imply that out of the reported strength of 19,319, the actual strength would be 4,830.
Therefore, the total strength of UPDF would be 12,000 + 4830== 16,830.
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