THE LATE GEN. ELLY TUMWINE 🕯️

The body of former security minister Gen. Elly Tumwine arrived in Uganda at the Entebbe Old Airport at about 7pm on Friday onboard a chartered Bar Aviation plane from Kenya's capital Nairobi, where the late senior military officer died Thursday morning.

Current security minister Gen. Jim Muhwezi, Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Gen. Wilson Mbadi and Joint Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Leopold Kyanda were among the senior military officers who received Tumwine's body.

Also related: Gen Elly Tumwine had a vision for African art

The widow, Jolly, and other family members, arrived onboard the plane carrying the body of the fallen military officer.

Jolly was overwhelmed by emotions and broke down in tears as the Uganda flag-draped casket carrying her husband's body was removed from the plane.

In a sombre aura of honour and emotions, the casket was then wheeled by military officers on a red carpet to a UPDF hearse on the tarmac, before being driven to Bombo Army headquarters.

Muhwezi described Tumwine, who died of cancer at the age of 68, as a hero who fought for his country.

New Vision's Eddie Ssejjoba was at Entebbe and captured the moments:
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Gen. Elly Tumwine died Thursday morning at Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.

He was flown to the Kenyan capital about two weeks ago from Nakasero Hospital suffering from cancer-related complications.

Besides his accomplished military career, Tumwine was also an educator, visual artist and musician.

Tumwine was born on April 12, 1954, in Burunga, Mbarara district and then attended Burunga Primary School, Mbarara High School and St. Henry's College Kitovu. He then joined Makerere University, where in 1977, he graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art together with the Diploma in Education.

In 1978, he fled Uganda and joined the Front for National Salvation (FRONASA) led by current Museveni to fight late President Idi Amin.

In 1981, Tumwine joined the National Resistance Army (NRA) and is credited with having fired the first shot that launched the guerilla war.

Three years later, he was named the NRA army commander and lost one of his eyes during the bush war. In 1987, Gen. Salim Saleh succeeded him.

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 from 1996 until 1998.

Tumwine was also the chairman of the High Command Appeals Committee from 1986 until 1999.

Tumwine was one of the longest serving Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) Members of Parliament, having represented the army from 1986 until 2021, when he was defeated in polls.

In September 2005, the senior military officer was promoted to the rank of general in the UPDF and named to chair of the UPDF General Court Martial. On May 16, 2022, Tumwiine was among 34 generals who were retired from the UPDF.

On Friday, it was a sombre moment at Entebbe, as his body was brought home.

In his condolence message, President Yoweri Museveni said Tumwine "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".

Museveni said he taught Tumwine at Burunga Primary School in 1967, "after our A-levels, as a student teacher, before going to university, later that year".

"He joined FRONASA with 9000 others in 1979, went to Monduli Military School in Tanzania and was the one who fired the first shot on the 6th February 1981, at Kabamba, at the beginning of the 1981-1986 war of Resistance.

"Since that time, Gen. Tumwine has been part of the leadership of the NRA- UPDF as well as serving the government in various capacities. Those capacities included being Army- Commander, member of the High Command, Director-General of Intelligence, Minister of Security, etc." said the President.