The Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MODVA) has congratulated itself on completing 90% of pledges and commitments made by the 2021 National Resistance Army (NRM) Manifesto under the ministry.
The ministry, through the Minister of State for Defence and Veteran Affairs, Huda Abason Oleru, made the above statement during the NRM Manifesto week on November 20, 2024, at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kampala.
Oleru revealed that under the 2021 NRM Manifesto, MODVA registered 90% achievement in implementing Manifesto Commitments, mainly in terms of strengthening security, capability enhancement, staff welfare, infrastructure development, and production.
“We have strengthened internal and regional security with deployments made in Somalia and South Sudan to maintain peace and trade. The ministry has also enhanced its capability through improving its defence weaponry and systems in its Marine forces, Air forces, Armored and motorized infantry, and assets,” she said.
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She noted that the ministry has developed its staff welfare with more recruitments and salary enhancements being made and the development and production of new infrastructure through NEC and Engineering brigade.
“We have since 2021 recruited 50,523 trainees with the policy of recruitment quotas per district. We have also, through our infrastructure development manifesto and engineering brigade, constructed 52 learning institutes across the UPDF establishment, 670 housing units, and several health facilities and done several renovations, including the recent new look of Namboole Stadium,” Oleru added.
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Brig General Henry Matsiko, the UPDF Chief Political Commissioner, applauded MODVA on commitments of protecting Ugandan citizens and their property, stating that the UPDF focused on territorial integrity, which has kept citizens and their property safe.
“The UPDF built a pro-people army that works with and for the population. The good character of the UPDF has played a main ploy for its achievements,” he said.
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According to the ministry officials, by the end of the manifesto period, the MODVA will have delivered on 95% overall of its commitments, stating that the unmet commitments will be handled as follows: referral hospitals will be completed within this FY, unpaid pension backlog cases will have been paid by the end of the manifesto period, and housing accommodations for soldiers will have been partially addressed.
