The Chieftaincy of Pension and Gratuity has initiated the Retirement Sensitization and Documentation Exercise for 159 out of 162 Senior Officers under Batch 13 B at the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy (NCOA) in Jinja. This exercise marks the imminent retirement of five Generals and 159 Senior Officers, ranging from the rank of Major to Colonel, from the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces on April 30, 2024.
Brigadier General Godfrey Kawesa Kigozi, the Deputy Chief of Personnel and Administration, urged the retiring officers to approach this phase of their lives with diligence, emphasizing the importance of adhering to their retirement plans. He emphasized that retirement should be seen as an opportunity to engage in civilian economic activities rather than a rejection from the forces. Brig Gen Kigozi acknowledged the challenge of adjusting from a command position but encouraged retirees to actively participate in community leadership through Local Councils and Parliamentary Seats, provided they refrain from promoting negative practices like sectarianism and tribalism.
Col Deborah Nayebare, Deputy Chief of Pension and Gratuity, reassured the retirees about the security of their pension remunerations, highlighting that the government has exempted them from any form of taxation. Col Robert Rutayinama, the Commandant of Jinja Cantonment, congratulated the officers on reaching this milestone in their UPDF career and urged them to view retirement positively. He encouraged wise investments of their pension and gratuity.
Mr. Enyimu William, Principal Human Resource Officer from the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, advised the retirees to carefully assess their retirement spending needs, including accommodation, medical, transport, dependents, and 70%-80% of pre-retirement needs. He provided guidance on basic investment principles, urging officers to consider where, how, and what to invest, as well as the level of risk, mastery of economic cash flow, and asset acquisition.
Batch 13 B will witness the retirement of a total of 162 Officers from the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces. This includes five Generals, thirty-six Colonels, eighty-two Lieutenant Colonels, and forty-one Majors. The notable Generals in this batch include Maj Gen Fred Tolit, Brig Gen Eugene Ssebugwawo, Brig Gen Emmanuel Rwashande, Brig Gen Jessy Kamunanwire, and Brig Max Gumisiriza, each having served in diverse capacities within the military and related fields.
