An analysis of the impact of the role of Uganda veterans’ assistance board in reintegrating updf veterans into civilian life in Kampala district December 2010

Abstract

The Reduction In Force (RIF) program undertaken by the UVAB between 1992 and 1995 was supported by a consortium of donors with US$ 39,942,781 financial contribution while the Government of Uganda contributed US$ 4,878,391. A total of 36,358 veterans were discharged from NRA/ UPDF with over 100,000 dependants. The study set out to assess the performance of UVAB in the sustainable reintegration of veterans in civilian life in Kampala district. The general objective of the research was to assess the performance of UVAB in reintegrating veterans into civilian life in Kampala District. The study used 262 respondents and scientific means were utilized to get the sample size and a triangulation of qualitative and quantitative methods were employed. Key findings from the study indicate that UVAB made several interventions in reintegrating veterans countrywide in the first ten years but has inadequately responded to reintegration challenges affecting veterans in the capital. The financial capacity of the UVAB is too poor to address any serious reintegration measures and this has made UVAB be looked at by the veterans as an organization that is unmindful of the fate of veterans. The decentralization policy of local governments married with the decentralization of management of veterans activities at the district level by the UVAB Act have not measured up to the expectations of UVAB and have not benefited veterans. Veterans’ matters are still peripheral and are not significant enough to be on agenda and the veterans land grabbing spree in Kampala could in part be attributed to this apathy on part of decentralization where the veterans are trying to take care of themselves. Finally, the community has not played its expected role of supporting veterans’ reintegration of veterans in practice although the veterans are in part to blame for the slow pace in community relations. UVAB is not capable of responding to the veterans needs especially in economic reintegration. The veterans remain dissatisfied. This research recommends studies to be undertaken in the following areas: Factors affecting resource allocation to veterans’ reintegration; Factors affecting active veterans’ participation in the reintegration process into civilian life; The effects of redrafting the veterans back into the army on the reintegration process of ex combatants; The impact of the local government decentralization policy on veterans reintegration into civilian life; and factors affecting participation of veterans in community economic initiatives.