Ugandans have received the sad news that Elly Tumwine, a bush war hero and former security minister, has passed away. Days after he had been declared dead by unidentified sources, the same news broke, and later, his Twitter account verified his continued existence. Here is Elly Tumwine’s cause of death. What killed him? and the final hours he spent on his deathbed.
Well, we have observed all media houses reporting about his death but they are not revealing the cause of his death. Close sources also claim that the bush war hero Gen. Elly Tumwine passed away from lung cancer. Due to the fact that he appeared so frail in his last public appearance on television, his life has been becoming worse day by day.
Last moments of Gen Elly Tumwine
Gen. Elly Tumwine spent his final hours and days in Nairobi’s Aga Khan Hospital, where he was joined by his family. Plus, he was surrounded by skilled medical professionals, and he undoubtedly put up a valiant fight. Ugandans will always miss your enthusiasm, love of the nation’s openness, peace, and other qualities.
Burial arrangements and date for Gen. Tumwiine
He will get a state funeral, and his remains will be given a parliamentary view, a state house view, and other honours. The date of his burial or funeral service has not yet been determined. We’ll keep you informed of any developments; remember to check Times Uganda.
About Gen Elly Tumwine
Tumwine passed away in the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, where he had recently been flown after suffering difficulties due to his disease.
However, the situation still lacks many specifics.
Tumwine was one of the 42 people who attacked the Kabamba barracks with 27 guns and launched the NRA-led conflict that, five years later in 1986, brought the current administration to power.
After leaving the classroom in 1978, Tumwine joined Museveni’s FRONASA soldiers.
Tumwine accompanied Yoweri Museveni, the rebel commander at the time, as he established the National Resistance Army (NRA) in the bush in 1981 after contesting the results of the elections in 1980.
Tumwine stated in an interview with the Nile Post in 2018 that “we had earlier gotten in touch and discussed with Museveni who had taught me in primary school that if the 1980 elections were rigged, we could go to the bush as the only way out.”
The National Resistance Army’s five-year conflict is said to have begun with a shot fired by Tumwine.
His firing of the opening shot during the operation that started the Luweero bush war has been extensively discussed.
He was one of the six founding members of the NRA High Command in January 1986, which later evolved into the present-day UPDF High Command.
Lovers and haters of Gen Elly Tumwine
Tumwine is well-liked by many people, yet he has also said things in public that have caused many dislike him.
For instance, Gen. Tumwine alarmed the public in 2020 while still the Security Minister when he asserted that the state has the authority to shoot demonstrators to death.
Speaking to journalists about the riots on November 14 that broke out after NUP presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, was taken into custody, Tumwine said he made no apologies for anyone who lost their life while attacking security personnel who were trying to put down protests.
According to Tumwine, the administration would not stand by while political figures who receive help from unidentified outside powers disturb the peace. He claimed that while they were sorry for the families who lost loved ones during the two days of ongoing fighting between the security forces and supporters of Robert Kyagulanyi’s National Unity Platform, violence usually results in fatalities and widespread destruction.
The people reacted negatively to his statement and several of them attacked him.
Military background of Gen Elly Tumwine
Tumwine enlisted in the army in 1978 and then travelled to the bush with rebel commander Yoweri Museveni to create the National Resistance Army (NRA).
He was appointed army commander in 1984, a position he held for three years until 1987, when General Salim Saleh took over.
He was appointed general in the UPDF in September 2005 and served as chairwoman of the UPDF General Court Martial at Makindye, where opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye was one of the defendants charged with treason.
Later, the case was moved to a civil court.
In addition, Gen. Tumwine held the positions of chairman of the High Command Appeals Committee from 1986 to 1999, minister of state for defence in 1989, director general of the External Security Organization (ESO) from 1994 to 1996, and adviser to the president on security from 1996 to 1998.
Tumwine has also previously served as the UPDF’s parliamentary representative.
Gen Elly Tumwine power
Gen. Tumwine was one of the initial six members of the NRA High Command on January 26, 1986, according to the UPDF Act of 2005.
One of the others is President Museveni, together with his brother Gen. Salim Saleh Akandwanaho, Gen. David Tinyefuza (now David Sejusa), the late Eriya Kategaya, and Brig. Matayo Kyaligonza.
Due to their prior service in the High Command, Gen. Tumwine and five additional individuals are permanent members of the Defence Forces Council and High Command, the army’s top policy and decision-making bodies.
In that role, he attended the High Command conference in July at State House Entebbe, which followed the military being put on Standby Class One, the highest degree of battle readiness.
