By Hope Mafaranga
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has made new changes
in the institution’s dress code, which includes uniforms, badges, berets, rank designs,
insignia, decorations, accessories and pips.
The changes were endorsed by a meeting
of the Army Council and the UPDF High Command, chaired by President Yoweri
Museveni at State House, Entebbe, after the UPDF dress code committee submitted
a report on the rationale of the changes.
The UPDF dress code committee said it has been working on the
dress code changes since 1996.
The UPDF on September 18, this year, published a general
notice number 1,013 of 2019 in the national gazette communicating the changes.
“The public is hereby informed that the marks, accessories,
insignia, decorations and uniforms specified in the schedule to this notice are
property of the state or classified stores and anyone found in unlawful possession,
selling or dealing in them shall be prosecuted under the Uganda People’s Defence
Forces Act, 2005,” the notice in the Gazette stated.
It adds: “Members of the
public are hereby informed that unless granted authority by a competent
military authority, it is prohibited to; (a) sell, offer or expose for sale or
use any uniform of the defence forces; (b) manufacture, sell, offer or expose
for sale, wear or use any uniform so nearly resembling the uniform of the Defense
Forces and is likely to deceive the public; or (c) wear or use any decoration supplied
or authorised for use by any member of the defence forces or any decoration so
nearly resembling that decoration and likely to deceive the public.” A
According to the Uganda Gazette, the new UPDF dress code has the
following: tunic, ceremonial wear, Kaunda suit, tuck-in and battle camouflage
dress codes.
The changes, army officials say, have been introduced to enhance
command, control and discipline within the rank and file of the UPDF to enable
the public identify the officers easily.
To Harmonize the EA
The changes were also made in order to conform to the harmonization
requirement of the East African Protocol on defence affairs.
Brig. Richard Karemire, the UPDF spokesperson said the new
changes in the UPDF dress code have been welcomed by the UPDF High Command and
Defence Council.
“The standardisation of the dress code is no doubt a step forward
in the modernization and professionalisation of the UPDF. It will be a vital
tool in identifying the different forces while enforcing command and control,”
he said.
Explaining the rationale behind gazetting of the dress code,
Karemire said it gives UPDF ownership rights of the new uniform and the changes
therein.
“Gazetting will further act as a deterrent to unauthorized use
and access. From a regional perspective, as we integrate, standardisation of
the dress code brings the UPDF closer in harmony with other armed forces of the
EAC partner states,” he said.
The current rank symbols and pips on the UPDF uniforms are
different from those of other East African members, which brings confusion in
identification of Ugandan armed forces by their peers within the East African
Community.
For instance, a general’s pips are assigned two stars, which
makes him look like a major general before peers in the region.
Now, the changes will
see a General with four stars like it is with other East African armies.
Opposition rejects
the changes
The red beret, according to new uniform changes, is a preserve
of the military Police section of the UPDF, navy blue for air forces and maroon
for Special Forces Command (SFC), a move the opposition have rejected.
The leader of the
political pressure group Power and the Kyandondo legislator Robert Kyagulanyi (
Bobi Wine) said the government gazzetted
the red beret to kill their popularity of red hats and they are stealing their band.
“ We are not going to allow this to happen to gazette our
red beret. I know the government’s intention is to ensure that they arrest our
supporters who will be found wearing our popular beret because its now gazetted,”
he said.
He said they will challenge the gazette in courts of law.
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