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Ex-soldiers assured of govt support
2006-07-10 08:55:21
By Dominic Nkolimwa
Ex-soldiers, particularly those who fought in the Kagera War of 1978 have been assured of total government support.
In an exclusive interview with The Guardian last Friday, Deputy Minister of Defense and National Service, Yusuf Mzee, said the government won’t abandon ex- soldiers because they fought to serve this country.
He said there are many soldiers who fought on behalf of the nation, sometimes they supported neighbouring countries against their enemies.
Mzee was reacting to a range of complaints which blamed the government for not taking care of soldiers who fought for the country or in the war of liberation.
He said the government is aware that many soldiers who fought in Uganda, South Africa, Angola, and Mozambique are not satisfied with what the government was providing them with. However, that did not mean it had abandoned them.
A representative of ex-soldiers, Materino Ndimbo from Mvomero in Morogoro Region, complained that the government was no longer doing enough for them.
’’After the war in Uganda, those seriously injured like me were sent to Lugalo Military Camp for further treatment, after being treated at Entebbe Uganda, Bugando Mwanza, and Muhimbili National Hospital.
He said they are now paid 37,500/- only after every six months, which means everybody gets 6,250/- per month, adding that this is absolutely nothing, taking into account the reality of life.
The government should consider our case, he said.
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