Friends For Peace In Africa

GULU

THE army has unearthed another 3,000 ghost soldiers during a recent pay-roll clean-up exercise, Chief of Staff of the Land Forces Godfrey Muheesi has said.

A total of 3,000 soldiers can make up a brigade, commanded by a colonel and earn at least Shs450 million a month in salaries. Other losses to a full ghost Brigade include provisions like weaponry, fuel and ammunition.

Brig. Muheesi did not say whether finally the army leadership now knows the true strength of the UPDF, as the ghost soldier phenomenon has been around for nearly two decades and the government always tried to clean it up.

Creation of ghosts

He said the ghosts were created by elements who had access to human resource records, adding that the practice is common among low-ranking officers who are responsible for payments in various units.

Brig. Muheesi said the ghosts were discovered after a four-month verification exercise he carried out with his team to ascertain the strength of the UPDF before the retirement exercise, which started last month.

The exercise started in August last year and ended in December. The ghosts were discovered in all the army’s five divisions, with northern Uganda, which has been the war zone operation area taking the large number.

Brig. Muheesi said some commanders and officers at records departments at various units have been colluding to keep names of the dead soldiers and non-existent soldiers on the nominal payroll.

While presiding at the send off ceremony of 895 retired soldiers at the fourth Division headquarters, Gulu, the chief of staff said, “There are criminals in this army. We shall unearth them one by one.”

Brig. Muheesi said there has been some disorganisation amongst some leaders in the force, abuse of office and neglect of duty. “As a result, they have caused financial losses by creating ghost soldiers, Some of us had about 300 ghosts in our pockets,” he said.
Brig. Muheesi said the issue of creation of ghost soldiers in the force started earlier by some irresponsible commanders, who are currently facing trial in courts.

“With those mistakes. You lost your salaries. The money meant for paying your salaries ended in some people’s pockets,” he told the soldiers. The chief of staff did not however say whether anybody has been arrested in the latest round up of the 3,000 ghosts nor did he indicate whether now the army leadership is sure of the real strength of the UPDF.

No more mistakes

Brig. Muheesi said they had now toughened saying no more mistakes will be entertained in the force. “There is no more amnesty to harbour. You make a mistake; you face the wrath of the law. We shall offload you,” he said. “We have done and committed mistakes but there is no more room for mistakes in the UPDF. You make a mistake, create ghosts, death, you go.”

Brig. Muheesi said in a bid to streamline the army for proper management and administration, the army had merged several battalions and units. He said the army has now reduced the number of battalions from 59 to 37 for easy administration.