KAMPALA – UPDF soldiers and its scientists are set to receive a salary increment in the financial year 2019-2020 which is coming in proportions.
Speaking at manifesto week at Office of the President in Kampala on Monday, May 14, the Minister of Defense and Veteran affairs Adolf Mwesige said: “there is a gradual enhancement of salaries for UPDF soldiers of lower ranks and Scientists to be at the same level as Grade III primary school teachers.”
This follows the welfare presidential directive to gradually and affordably increase the salaries of soldiers until they come in line with salaries of primary school teachers. “Pay well scientists like engineers, pilots and doctors in order to retain them in UPDF and other establishments.”
According the Ministry of Education, currently, the entry month salary for a primary school head teacher is UGX 588,359 whereas a Grade III teacher receives UGX 469,355 per month and this was after the enhancement from UGX 280,000 for a primary teacher.
By 2017, UPDF salaries for lower ranks were between UGX380, 000 and UGX543, 609 as seen in the table below.
| Rank | Salary by 2017 |
| PTE | 380,000 |
| Lance Corporal | 410,000 |
| Corporal | 430,000 |
| SGT | 490,000 |
| Warrant officer II | 543,609 |
It should be highlighted that in the 2017/2018 financial year, the Defense Ministry received Shs1.396 trillion, up from 1.263 trillion that was allocated to it in the current period. According to the ministerial statement, about half of the budget (Shs641 billion) went to paying wages and salaries of the soldiers.
In addition to salaries, UPDF members also receive allowances, food rations, medical care provided to the troops and their families, as well as formal education provided to the children of all the soldiers.
Remarking on Human Capital development in the military, Minister Mwesige noted that the Ministry has continued to train and retrain the Force in relevant courses for skills development and knowledge acquisition.
He said this has been geared towards professionalizing and modernizing the army in addition to making the UPDF thrive at the national, regional and global stage.
“Trainings have been undertaken both locally and internationally with joint exercises to test readiness for peace support operations and improve regional response in dealing with global and national security threats over the years”
Various housing units for the soldiers have been constructed such as the Entebbe Service accommodation for mainly SFC, Masaka Armored Brigade, Nsamizi, Masaka Barracks, Gulu Barracks among others.
In addition to the above, The Minister noted that the defense ministry has also achieved in Professionalizing and modernizing the defense and security forces and this has been done through acquiring, refurbishing and maintaining equipment for land, air and water.
He also added that the Ministry been engaged in the massive development of the defense and security infrastructure including Uganda Military Academy – Kabamba, Kaweweta Training School, PSO Training School – Singo.
According to the defense minister, this puts the Ministry’s Performance to 75%.