Maj Gen (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire, one of the surviving bush war fighters, has told mourners at the final sendoff of former security minister Gen Elly Tumwine in Rwemikoma, Kazo District, the final message that the fallen general sent to surviving bush war generals and fighters before he flew to Nairobi, Kenya, where he died last week.
Gen Tumwine was among the most famous fighters of the National Resistance Army (NRA) bush war that was led by Uganda’s current and long serving president Gen Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni between 1981 and 1986.
Praised for his bravery, Gen Tumwine fired the first shot that began the NRA war during the attack at Kabamba. The firing was in contravention of the plan for the attack.
In the bush war, Tumwine lost his eye and sustained other injuries.
The general died on August 25, 2022 at the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi after weeks of treatment. He was aged 68.
Before he flew out out of the country, which took a lot of convincing, Gen Tumwine sent for Maj Gen (Rtd) Otafiire to inform him that he had decided to go to Nairobi for treatment.
Otafiire was among the high profile mourners that attended Tumwine’s burial ceremony in Rwemikoma on August 30.
He revealed that Tumwine had told him he would not make it back to Kampala alive.
“I have gone to Nairobi but I will not come back [alive],” Otafiire quoted Gen Tumwine as telling him before he was airlifted to Aga Khan Hospital for further treatment after his condition worsened.
He then told Otafiire and other bush war veterans never to betray the struggle against misrule and bad governance that the NRA had gone to the jungles of Luweero to fight.
“Do not betray the struggle for which we fought,” revealed Otafiire.
As he concluded his eulogy, Otafiire promised never to betray the ideals of the NRA struggle as long as he lived.
It should be remembered that long before he died, Gen Elly Tumwine had sent his final warning and message to President Museveni. (Read and Watch this message Here).
