President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged the 11 retired generals to encourage their children to pursue agricultural careers rather than pursuing courses that send them in search of office jobs which have become scarce these days. 

The president was speaking at the farewell ceremony of 11 soldiers at the rank of general at the Presidential house in Entebbe who joined the other 99 senior army officers from the rank of major to Col who retired ON 25th August at the ministry headquarters in Mbuya making a total of 104 soldiers retired this year. 

The updf has not retired its soldiers for several years due to financial reasons and since its inception, it has retired its soldiers only 13 times the president explained why they had to first hold on to retirement until they solved the issue of package that is considerably more so he enlightened on the issues of casualties in Mubende.

President Museveni urged these retirees Not to misuse their retirement package by investing in ambitious projects like building hotels, and schools to mention but a few. Instead, they should invest in small projects that they are sure of like buying land and agriculture.

The President also urged the soldiers to encourage their children to specialize in agriculture rather than studying subjects that send them in search of office jobs that are not available in large numbers.

He also urged the retired officers not to take their retirement as a redundancy but to get involved in things like local leadership where they live so that they can continue to benefit the country and the societies they live in. 

The chief of the defence force  Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi reported to the president on the issue of backlog in the army saying it has really hindered a lot of developments in the army.

Mbasu thanked the President for retiring the officers with a considerable package saying this has helped to cure the fear of the unknown and the reluctance for retiring hence he encouraged the retirees not to retire their experience but instead use it in other productive activities.

The state Minister for Defense and Veterans Affairs Hon  Oboth Oboth commended the retiree soldiers for sacrificing their lives to serve the country Uganda and Africa in general in maintaining peace and their families especially the spouses for being patient while their husbands were serving the country. 

Among the retired generals was the former IGP who served from 2005 to 2018 Gen Kale Kayihura who spoke on behalf of the other retirees spoke about his struggle and conveyed their gratitude to the president for setting an example for them and allowing them to serve their country. 

Gen Kayihura says their retirement is a historical event in their lives because they are being retired with dignity and thus commended the soldiers who have done their utmost to keep the country at peace, unlike the way they found it.

He expressed his gratitude to the president, the general court-martial, and other authorities in updf for freeing him of all the charges thus he urged the servicemen to adopt more technology in their efforts to protect freedom.

The retirement ceremony of the generals was attended by officials such as state  Minister of Veterans Affairs Hon Huda Oleru Abason as well as senior updf officers and the retired were presented with gifts such as certificates, swords, and others.