Unauthorised/fraudulent transfers
The President and C-in-C of the UPDF issued a directive entitled ‘ Directives Under-Strength of UPDF Units’ dated 5th March 2002.
DIRECTIVES ON UNDERSTRENGTH OF UPDF C-in-C
I have noted with grave concern that Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces combat units are under strength...
1. Under-strength of Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces Battalions is prohibited forthwith. A Battalion should either be full strength or reinforced strength...
2. Whenever a Battalion suffers loss of man-power, the respective unit CO should ensure that there is immediate replacement of such manpower...
4. Fragmentation of brigades where by subordinate battalions are deployed outside their respective brigade area of responsibility must stop forthwith.
5. Transfer of other ranks must cease. It is only officers that are transferable.
In spite of the above-mentioned directive, transfers have continued resulting into creation of ghosts and undermining the operational efficiency of units.
COS
Q: Now going back to the first one, that is covered by the directive as well, do not transfer other ranks, but you none the less go ahead and do that!
COS: Yes Sir!
It has been discovered that there are numerous cases of transfers of other ranks, in contravention of the C-in-C’s directive. There are 15 examples in different units as follows:
• Ref No. UPDF/409 Bde/206 A dated 12th June 02 from BAO to COS. Here a total of 302 ORs were transferred from 409 Bde HQ to seven different units.
• Ref No. UPDF/1 DIV/206 A from 1 DAO to COS dated 4th May 2002 whereby a total 280 ORs were transferred from 1DIV HQ to 04 different Units.
• Ref. No. HQ/2DIV/3Q dated 22 May 2002 from 2 DIV CO to COS where a total of 80 ORs were transferred from 2 DIV HQs to 04 different Units.
• Ref. No. HQ/2 DIV/&A dated 06 June 2002 from 2 DIV CO to COS whereby a total of 65 ORs were transferred from 2 DIV
HQs to 24 different Units.
• Ref. No. UPDF/PPU/04A dated 12 June 2002 from CO PPU to COS whereby 13 ORs were transferred from Kabamba Training School to PPU as instructors.
• Ref. No. UPDF/MI/6A dated 02 July 2002 from CMI to COS whereby 26 ORs were transferred from Ml HQs to 03 BN.
• Ref. No. UPDF/D03/6A dated 22 August 02 from 2 DIV CO to COS whereby a total of 53 ORs were transferred from 3 DIV
HQs to 09 different units.
• Ref. No.UPDF/45Bn/22Q dated 21 Nov 2002 from CO 45 BN to AC information COS whereby a total of 231 ORS were
transferred from 45 BN to 53 BN.
• Ref.No.UPDF/77Bn/22Q dated 01 November 2002 from CO 77 BN to AC information to COS hereby a total of 237 ORs were transferred from 77Bn to 53Bn.
• Ref. No. UPDF/AC/506/Adated16 Januaty2003 from Ag. MA- AC to COS whereby the former AC authorised the transfer of RA/14688 Pte Kiiza Wilson from DOE to 507 Bde HQs.
• Ref. No. UPDF/AC/506/Adated22January2003from Ag MA- AC to COS whereby the former AC instructed the transfer of RA/165070 Pte Twiine John from 23 BN to MP.
• Ref. No. UPDF/51/03A dated 15 March 2003 from CO 51 BN to COS whereby a total of 292 NYAs were transferred from 4
DIV HQs to 51 BN, a unit of another Division.
• Ref. No. UPDF/51/03 A dated 15 March 2003 from CO 51BN to COS whereby a total of 274 ORs were transferred from 51
to 05 BN.
• Ref. No. UPDF/409Bde/206A dated 03 March 2003 from BAO to COS whereby a total of 174 ORs were inter-transferred within Units of the Bde.
• Ref. No. UPDF/DIV4/64 dated 08 July 2003 from 4 DIV CO to COS whereby a total of 153 ORs were transferred from various
Units.
(iv) Interchange of digits in service numbers with or without variation in names.
This was also found to be a common practice used by those who create ghosts.
There were many examples of this e.g. X is RO/123 then later the same X is RO/132 in a different unit or same unit to confuse records/pay.
(v) Falsification of Acquittance Rolls in Accountability for Ghost soldiers The Committee established that the act of maintaining of ghost soldiers on the UPDF/Auxiliary forces payroll is falsification of acquittance rolls, which are used to account for ghost soldiers’ salaries. This is done through the following ways:
• Unit paymasters signing for the money of ghost soldiers.
• Unit paymasters forging/concocting signatures against names of ghost soldiers.
• Insertion of fictitious names.
• Multiple thumbs printing of acquittance rolls by the same persons.
4 DIV DFO - CAPT MUKANDA
Q. Where would you keep the money for the people not on the ground?
Mukanda: For sure most of the money would be used on several areas. One, operations. Two, most of these Routine funds which we get from GHQs are not sufficient. So these balances would help us to cover up that gap....
Q. How were you accounting for it?
Mukanda: I would get instructions from the Div CO that let the paymasters countersign.
Q. You would put your signature?
Mukanda: They would put their signatures, the paymasters, and it was the general practice.
Q. As Finance officer, did you know that it was irregular?
Mukanda: Yes, it was very irregular....
507 BDE PMR – LT. MWESIGWA
Q. So what have you had as the balances? You talked of 12 million.
PMR: Now the 12m, that was for November, again in December they still had to pay. They remained with the balances at Div HQs.
Q: Who would account for the salary since the pay team was coming from the Division HQs?
PMR: I would account for the money. You know normally the normal procedure would be if there are balances to declare them to the BAO, but here is a situation where by they have been using the money. So for us we had to account for the money.
Q: Do they sign with their names or with your signature?
PMR: But you can also see. Now what can I do? Because these names are not there. So I have to sign against their names.
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