By Mugula Dan
The government has introduced amendments to the UPDF Act 2005, to bring the armed forces up to date with the changes that have taken place in the armed forces
The amendments, introduced by the government to parliament through the defense minister, seeks to introduce the SFC as a single arm of the armed forces to join the existing army, air force and defence
The Special Forces Command [SFC] arm, since its inception, has not been legally in existence according to the Army Act.
The Act allows the military authorities to create a military arm but parliament must approve it, which has never been done for the SFC
Under the amendments, the government also wants to move the military pension from the Ministry of Public Service to the Ministry of Defence
The government also wants to provide insurance for the military.
Under the amendments, the government wants to create a body of powers and responsibilities in the national army called the Joint Military Command Council to join the High Command.
The Joint Military Command will have a chairman who is the commander-in-chief of the army who will be deputy commander, and its responsibilities include advising the supreme commander of the army who is the president on various issues, including war and others
The salaries of the soldiers would be decided by the High Command, chaired by the President and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
Under the amendments to the Army Act, the government wants to abolish the Unit Displenary Committees , and rename them Unit court martial
The amendments to the military law have been sent to the parliamentary security committee for consideration