Legislators sitting on the committee of Defence and Internal Affairs have tasked officials from the defence ministry to address salary issues in the army.
Officials from the ministry of defence, led by the Minister Adolf Mwesige had appeared before the committee chaired by Mityana Woman MP Judith Nabakooba over the 2017/2018 financial year budget estimates.
Led by Ntoroko County MP Gerald Rwemulikya Ibanda, legislators noted how hard it is for soldiers at a rank of Private to have a decent living with only 380,000 Shillings earned per month.
MP Ibanda tasked the ministry officials to explain what is being done to enhance wages of soldiers.
Mwesige however told the committee that the ministry would require 87 billion shillings to enhance salaries of all army officers but want at least 43.7 billion shillings to first increase salaries for those in lower ranks like privates and sergeants in the next financial year.
The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General David Muhoozi, also said that they had proposed to raise salary of Privates to the level of Grade III primary teachers at a cost of 43 billion shillings but it has not been catered for.
A grade three primary teacher currently earns about 480,000 shillings.
Defence committee chairperson, Mityana Woman MP Judith Nabakooba, indicated that parliament will have to decide on whether to allocate the required funds since the army council chaired by President Yoweri Museveni approved the salary increment.
Defence has been allocated a budget of 1.3 trillion Shilling in the 2017/18 budget estimates.
