General Elly Tumwine, one of the heroes of the 1986 Luweero bush war that brought the current NRM government to power.
By Atwine Allen – DIPLOMATIC TIMES CORRESPONDENT
KAMPALA – UGANDA – General Elly Tumwine, best known as one of the heroes of the 1986 Luweero bush war that brought the current NRM Ugandan government to power, has died at the age of 68. Ugandan politicians have described him as a patriot who served his country with passion. Tumwine died from Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, where he was airlifted recently as he battled cancer. Tumwine was among the 42 people armed with 27 guns who attacked Kabamba barracks to launch the NRA protracted war that five years later in 1986 launched the current government of President Museveni to power, after leaving his teaching career in 1978 to join the FRONASA forces led by Museveni.
“With deep sorrow, I announce the deep death, at 5:46am in Nairobi, of General Elly Tumwiine from lung cancer. He has been a dedicated and hard-working cadre. More will be said about him later. Condolences to his family, to the NRA-UPDF- NRM fraternity and to all Ugandans. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”
-President Museveni said in a statement released on Thursday morning.
In 1978, Tumwine interrupted his teaching career to join the FRONASA forces led by Museveni to fight the Idi Amin regime. In 1981, when Museveni went to the bush to form the NRA, Tumwine went with him. He is reported to have fired the first shot in the National Resistance Army War, which propelled the National Resistance Army and National Resistance Movement into power in Uganda in 1986. During the fighting between the NRA and the UNLA, Tumwine sustained facial injuries that led to loss of sight in one eye.
During his career, Gen Tumwine also served as Minister of State for Defence in 1989, Director General of the External Security Organization (ESO) from 1994 until 1996, presidential adviser on security from 1996 until 1998, chairman of the High Command Appeals Committee from 1986 until 1999. The General has said joining the 1981- 86 liberation war was the most critical decision he had ever taken and has brought fruits not only to him but also the entire country.
Tumwine served as commander of the National Resistance Army from 1984 to 1987. Tumwine was one of the highest-ranking members of the Ugandan military who reportedly said it was okay for police to shoot at violent protesters (who attacked police, blocked public roads with burning tyres, looted shops, tribally attacked fellow civilians). He also was said to have ordered the military illegally incarcerate and send opposition members to be tried in military courts based on trumped up charges , which resulted in Bobi Wine supporters suing for Human Rights violations. This led the United States of America to sanction the Ugandan generals over human rights abuses. He was a member of the Ugandan Parliament, representing the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF).
