The recent “retirement” ceremony at the Fourth Division Headquarters, where Brigadier General Felix Busizoori and others lectured veteran soldiers on loyalty and obedience, is nothing short of a political farce—a desperate bid to stifle dissent within the ranks of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). Instead of a graceful send-off for individuals who have dedicated their lives to serving Uganda, these soldiers were handed a list of directives reeking of paranoia and control. The message from the top brass was clear: “As you leave the barracks, remember, you are not free. You are to remain loyal, submissive, and watched.” What a disgraceful message to the brave men and women who put their lives on the line for the country.
Brigadier Busizoori’s warning against joining opposition movements highlights the government’s overwhelming fear of losing power. Uganda’s leadership knows very well that the greatest threat to their authoritarian rule may come from within—those who have witnessed firsthand the brutality, corruption, and hypocrisy entrenched in the UPDF under President Museveni’s regime. The constant refrain of “you must maintain peace and security” is nothing more than a veil to justify invasive surveillance over the veterans. Forcing retired soldiers to “register” with local security officials upon returning to their communities is a thinly disguised tactic for continuous monitoring. Are these heroes really free, or are they still prisoners of the state they once served?
The rhetoric from the Chairperson of Veteran Affairs, Retired Lieutenant Alfred Ocaya, verges on absurdity. Warning retirees to avoid “land grabbing” and urging them not to be “used by the opposition” is ironic at best, coming from representatives of a government marred by land-related scandals. Has Ocaya conveniently forgotten the regime’s own record in illegally seizing lands and resources across Uganda? Such hypocritical grandstanding only amplifies the growing distrust between veterans and the state, fueling resentment that could erupt at any time.
Ocaya’s remark, “if you join [the opposition]…we shall cancel you,” underscores the government’s tyrannical grip over its citizens. The message here is chilling: veterans are not entitled to think for themselves or act on their convictions; instead, they are expected to act as silent agents of the state, forever bound to serve Museveni’s interests. This is not the language of a free nation; it’s the language of dictatorship. Veterans are being warned to shun any form of opposition as if they’re criminals for considering alternatives to Museveni’s oppressive rule.
As if the humiliation wasn’t enough, Brigadier Busizoori’s paternalistic advice on “investing wisely” reeks of condescension. Advising grown men and women to avoid “sports betting” and “marrying more women” trivializes the immense challenges these veterans will face in civilian life. What Busizoori and his fellow officers fail to grasp is that these veterans are transitioning into a world where Uganda’s economy, social services, and job opportunities have been systematically destroyed by the very government they served. Telling retirees to invest “wisely” in a country where the cost of living is skyrocketing and unemployment is rampant is not just unhelpful—it’s insulting.
It’s evident that Uganda’s military leadership, under Museveni’s thumb, is using these retirees as yet another tool to maintain power. The “preparation period” offered to them was not for their benefit but a delay tactic, keeping these veterans under tight control and spoon-feeding them government propaganda for three extra years. It’s a mockery of their sacrifices and an insult to their loyalty. These soldiers were taught to defend their country but now find themselves instructed to defend a dictator’s legacy, to trade in their honor for continued servitude to a broken system.
The UPDF’s treatment of its veterans speaks volumes about its true values—obedience over justice, submission over empowerment. Museveni’s government isn’t releasing these soldiers into retirement; it’s shackling them to an indefinite sentence of silence and subservience. This twisted ceremony may have been masked as a “retirement celebration,” but in truth, it was a dark reminder that Uganda’s soldiers, even in retirement, will never truly be free. The veterans deserve better. Uganda deserves better. The clock is ticking for the UPDF’s iron-fisted leadership.
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