The Senior Presidential Advisor in charge of Special Operations, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has vowed to clean up the Ministry of Defence which he said is grappling with deep-rooted corruption.
“The President and Commander-In-Chief has given me the task to clean up the Ministry of Defence (MoD),” said Muhoozi on Tuesday.
“MoD will be saved from all the corruption that has been going on for decades,” he added.
Media understands President Museveni will make a formal communication on Muhoozi’s new assignment.
Muhoozi said, “As one of my first steps in redeeming MoD, I will insist on a program to help our war veterans. 90% of them suffer from PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders).”
There have been several incidents of UPDF soldiers opening fire on their comrades or members of the public during or immediately after combat missions – incidents attributed to PSTD.
In 2019, Maj Gen Kyanda said programs are needed to ensure forces recover from possible post-traumatic stress disorders after being involved in heavy combat and stressful environment for 12 months without the opportunity for annual leave.
Corruption at Defence Ministry
In October 2021, Muhoozi threatened to resign if the Defence Ministry fell short of providing Shs 20bn he had asked to build decent accommodation facilities for soldiers.
“These people (defence ministry) know that if they give us the money we need, they are gone because soldiers will know who has been stealing from them all these years,” said Muhoozi, adding, “the biggest criminal cartel in Uganda is at the Ministry of Defence”
Sources said then that Muhoozi was concerned that while military officials including generals based at Mbuya had amassed a lot of wealth through “unprecedented” and “ historic” corruption, the foot soldiers continued to wallow in destitution.
Muhoozi said he could not continue serving as a Commander of the Land Forces “when my forces are living like cavemen,” emphasizing, “Bombo is a real dungeon. It is a real disaster.”
It is alleged money is siphoned through inflated contracts for supplies of food, logistics, fuel, medicine and infrastructure projects.
It remains unclear whether Muhoozi will set up a committee to oversee all defence ministry projects to plug loopholes used to steal public funds.
However, sources say he is likely to overhaul the entire procurement system of the defence ministry and set up new audit structures.
Last year, Museveni said Muhoozi was intolerant to corruption.
“Muhoozi will fight corruption, I am patient with corrupt people but Muhoozi is impatient, he will fight corruption,” said Museveni during Muhoozi’s birthday celebrations at State House, Entebbe.
