Defense Minister Gen. James Kabarebe led a high-level Ministry to Parliament today in Kigali (Courtesy photo)
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced it will increase army allowances and other affiliated benefits in its new revised 2014-2015 budget.
According to the Minister of Defence, Gen. James Kabarebe, the new development will see the Ministry add Rwf9billion to its new revised budget to meet the proposed plans.
Presenting the Ministry’s new budget before the parliamentary standing Committee on Economy and National Budget, Minister Kabarebe said that the Ministry will need extra Rwf9billion on its current revised budget of Rwf55billion, making it Rwf64.7billion in the next year’s budget.
Min. Kabarebe explained to the committee how his Ministry allocated last year’s money and highlighted key areas to be included in the new budget.
“For 2013-2014 budget, we spent over Rwf41billion on army salaries, Rwf10billion for purchase of materials and equipment and Rwf1.2billion that was spent in improving army welfare,” said the Minister.
The Minister added that further Rwf1.1billion was spent in maintenance of military equipment, while Rwf1billion was used in developing military skills as well building cooperation between RDF and other military Forces around the World.
Increasing Monthly allowance
In the new revised budget, according to Minister Kabarebe, more emphasis was put in improving army welfare, which will see a bigger percentage in increase of monthly allowance that has been given to every soldier in the army.
According to the Minister, Monthly allowance that has been given to soldiers will increase from Rwf16000 to Rwf22000, effective July this year. This will be a 38 percent increase from the current level.
The Minister also announced an increase in the budget for medical insurance expenses, which he said will jump from Rwf80million injected in Military Medical Insurance (MMI) last year to Rwf150 million.
Minister Kabarebe told the parliamentary standing committee on Economy and National Budget that the money injected in MMI is meant for providing health services to the soldiers and their families, which he said intends to motivate soldiers and improve their wellbeing.
“Every soldier loves anything that can morale boost him or her, regardless of how small it can be. Health services are an important element on the life of a soldier and his family,” said the Minister.
According to Minister Kabarebe, this year’s money on soldiers’ salaries will increase due to recruitment 2700 new army entrants. The minister explained that the number will be added to another 400 cadet officers set to join the army and 2500 junior officers who will also be recruited.
The Ministry will also spend money on demobilization process that will see 750 soldiers leaving the army with retirement package.
Military University in place
During his presentation, the Minister of Defence said that part of 2014-2015 budget will see the construction of a new state-of-the-art Defence University. The new military University that will provide modern military studies willbe followed by the purchase of modern materials to improve services at Kanombe military Hospital as well as construction of 44 Health posts in the Country during RDF’s Army week programmes. The new Health posts are expected to cost about Rwf544million.
The new budget will also facilitate the Ministry of Defence to increase army shops in different parts of the Country. The shops set to be constructed under the new budget include Rwamagana and Nyagatare in Eastern Province, Gicumbi and Musanze in Northern Province; Muhanga in Southern Province as well as Rusizi and Rubavu Districts in the Western Province which is part of a new plan to improve Army welfare.