Is the UPDF a tribal army because most of its senior Generals are mainly from southwestern Uganda? There is need to define what tribal and national institutions are. A national institution is one whose aspirations and actions serve the broader national good. Conversely a tribal institution serves parochial tribal interests.

However, a given tribal group's dominating an institution does not necessarily make it tribal. For instance, for nearly 40 years the leadership of South Africa's august African National Congress was dominated by able Xhosas. Leaders as say Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Alfred Nzo, Maama Albertina Sisulu, Maama Winnie Madikizela Mandela, Chris Hani and Thabo Mbeki. However, this never diminished its national credentials.

The UPDF's genesis is traced to the democratic struggles of the 1970s and 1980s. Two prominent groups featured in this saga: Milton Obote's UPC and its Kikosi Maluum (Special Unit) armed wing, and Yoweri Museveni's Front for the National Salvation (Fronasa). Kikosi Maluum (KM) was mainly composed of former Uganda army soldiers. Many had served in the colonial King's African Rifles. Some were UPC operatives as Paulo Muwanga, Chris Rwakasisi and Edward Rurangaranga. Their vision was to restore the pre-Amin 1971, status quo!

Fronasa was mainly composed of youthful radical intellectuals, interested in re-constructing the failed anti-democratic, sectarian post colonial state. Mwalimu Nyerere's decision to topple Amin, after the latter's invasion of the Kagera salient in 1978, gave opportunity for each of these two groups to shape the future of Uganda's politics and state, including its armed forces. For Nyerere, faced with rabid criticism from the OAU, which due to self interest was blinded by the international law provision of the non violability of a state's sovereignty, wanted to Ugandanise this invasion.

Hence Nyerere sought the wiling support of the UPC's KM and Fronasa to recruit men for the war effort. KM was assigned the central axis -passing through Rakai, Masaka, Kampala and across the Nile and Lake Kyoga to the north and east. Fronasa was given the western axis, through Ntungamo, Mbarara and the rest of western Uganda.

Obote and KM opted not to recruit in the Buganda and near east regions. They only bolstered their numbers on reaching Lango, Acholi and Teso regions. Hence the resultant Uganda National Liberation Army, became a tribal, sectional militia.

On the other hand, Museveni massively recruited in the west. These are the men that he used to launch the armed struggle in 1981, under the banner of the Peoples Resistance Army. This transformed into the NRA in Luweero Triangle, where further widespread recruitments in Buganda, Rwenzori and western regions proceeded without discrimination. After capturing power the NRA became a national army and under the 1995 Constitution transformed into the UPDF.

The national character and content of the UPDF are prescribed by both the Constitution and the UPDF Act. Objectively, it's the most nationally representative Ugandan institution. UPDF promotions are informed by a combination of experience, including crucial battle experience, loyalty to the State and training. And our generals are long serving, loyal and highly trained. Based on this criteria, with time, all levels of the UPDF will be much more nationally representative.