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Summary:

• Retiring police officers in Uganda, led by Deputy Director for Interpol Joseph Obwana, have appealed to President Museveni to increase the salaries of senior police officers to match those of their counterparts in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), citing a significant salary disparity between the two groups. Obwana, equivalent to a Lieutenant General, highlighted the need for salary parity and expressed concern over retiring with a comparatively low package. The request comes after recent UPDF salary increases for Generals, Colonels, and Majors, emphasizing the retirees’ desire for comparable financial benefits.

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Kampala, Uganda | THE BLACK EXAMINER |  Retiring police officers have asked President Yoweri Museveni to raise the salaries of senior police officers to match those of their counterparts in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces –UPDF.

The message was delivered on Tuesday by the retiring Deputy Director for Interpol- Uganda, Joseph Obwana on behalf of 233 officers who are retiring from active service.

Obwana, who is at the rank of Senior Commissioner of Police (SCP) which is equivalent to Lieutenant General has been earning sh2.5 million shillings yet his counterparts in the army earn over sh13.5 million.

The UPDF High Command on May 25, 2022, resolved and effectively implemented a salary rise for all Generals, Colonels, and Majors. Subsequently, the four-star Generals whose salary was 3.8 million Shillings was increased to 15 million Shillings yet their police counterparts the Assistant Inspector Generals of Police (AIGPs) are earning 2.9 million shillings monthly.

It is against this disparity that Obwana requested Museveni to raise the senior officers’ pay to the levels of their military equals.

Obwana expressed worry that he is retiring with a dismal package yet when he shared with his recently retired top senior military officers who are equivalent to his rank, their packages were exciting and encouraging.

“We appeal to you the president to increase our salaries and gratuity just like that of our colleagues in the UPDF. I recently shared with our retiring colleagues in the UPDF and their packages were very motivational,” Obwana said.

In August, Museveni retired 13 UPDF Generals including former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Gen Edward Kale Kayihura. The top military brass from the ranks of Brigadier to General were given houses valued at more than 200 million shillings while others reportedly left with cash worth 600 million Shillings.

Obwana has been deputizing AIGP Grace Akullo but his two-year contract was not renewed and was asked to leave office by the IGP Martin Ochola. However, Obwana was officially retired after serving for close to 40 years.

He retired with 212 others from the rank of Commissioner of Police (CP), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Superintendent of Police (SP), and Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).

Prof Samuel Ssejjaka, who was the Guest Speaker urged the retirees not to waste the decades of years they have served in the police force but venture into private security services such as consultancy.

“Are you just going to throw that training away? You can become a consultant in very many aspects of security in this country. It is important to manage your priorities because your resources are now going to be limited. When I was in Makerere I had a driver and somebody carrying my briefcase but I no longer have those privileges,” Prof Ssejjaka said.

Jesse Kamunanwire, the Director of Police Human Resource Management as well as Deputy IGP Maj Gen Geoffrey Katsigazi Tumusiime, encouraged the retirees to stay healthy, accept the new normal of living with ordinary communities, and avoid panicky investments.