The Ugandan government is to spend 630 million US dollars on army equipment and restructuring, the state-owned newspaper, The New Vision, reported on Monday.

The expenditure is part of the donor-funded Defense Review Program (DRP) which aims to professionalize the army.

The Paris-based Indian Ocean Newsletter was quoted as saying the Defense Ministry of Uganda is expected to spend the money on buying equipment and restructuring the army command as well as reviewing the military doctrine.

Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Col. Shaban Bantariza was quoted as saying that the newsletter report was based on the recommendations of the DRP which will be implemented over a 15- year period.

According to the newsletter, the major expenditure of the 353 billion shillings (202 million dollars) will go into the creation of six mechanized battalions with a view to setting up a mechanized brigade. The items to purchase include tanks, computer- guided amphibious combat vehicles and armored personnel carriers.

One of the mechanized battalion has already been instituted and another is in the process of being created at 88 billion shillings (50 million dollars).

Bantariza said the DRP recommendations include modernizing the salary payment system, personnel accountancy, purchase and management of arms and army numbers.

Source: Xinhua