President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has paid homage to Gen Elly Tumwine, who died at 68, saying he “fired the first shot” in the revolution that brought him to office.
He was alluding to an attack on a military camp by National Resistance Army (NRA) insurgents in 1981.
According to an army statement, Gen Tumwine, who joined the resistance in 1979, lost his eye in combat during the five-year bush war and was lauded for his “role in the revolution.” He was often seen wearing dark shades.
Two weeks ago, the general, who had lung cancer, was evacuated to a hospital in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital. The 77-year-old president praised a “committed and hard-working cadre” in a series of tweets.
“I had taught him at Burunga Primary School as a student teacher following our A-levels in 1967, before going to university later that year,” he said.
Gen Tumwine graduated from Makerere University with a fine arts degree in 1977, then quit his teaching position to join the resistance and undertake military training in neighboring Tanzania with 9,000 others. He went on to head the rebel army for many years in 1984.
He has held various top government roles and served as a long-term MP representing the army. He also chaired the committee that chose who would earn national hero awards for many years.
The bush war veteran was also an artist and musician who enjoyed writing songs in Runyankore, his native language. But he was most known for being a blunt speaker who could be somewhat contentious.
He once informed a parliamentary hearing regarding alleged torture of individuals kept in security forces’ safe homes, “There are sites which this committee cannot visit for security reasons.”
After a fatal election campaign demonstration in 2020, he declared the armed forces “had a right to shoot you and kill you if you reached a certain degree of violence.”
Even after being removed from the government in 2021, he remained vocal, encouraging President Museveni, who had recently begun his sixth term, to prepare to quit power.
“I am still a freedom fighter, and I appreciate and thank him for being my teacher, mentor, leader, and hero.” I will continue to provide him with my honest encouragement and counsel.
“And now, the greatest counsel I can offer him is to plan for a peaceful transition so that we can secure future stability and peace.” He was part of a declining cadre of bush war veterans that many young Ugandans believe are holding the nation hostage by reminding them of the independence fight.
Many people on social media reacted angrily to the news of his death.
