30 years later, where are the men who participated in the capture of Kampala?

Today, January 26 2016, marks 30 years since a triumphant rebel outfit, the National Resistance Army (NRA), captured Kampala after a sustained assault on the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) forces.

The EagleOnline retraces some of the instrumental men who were directly responsible for the assault on, and subsequent capture of Kampala City that was led by the Overall NRA Commander Yoweri Museveni.

1. General Elly Tumwine Tuhirirwe

Tumwine was the first Army Commander in the post-war NRA/M government, and served in that capacity for about two years before he was sent for a course in Russia. Given his post then, Tumwine played an important role in planning and coordinating the attack on Kampala and its subsequent capture.

On his return from Russia the soft-spoken General was assigned other command roles in the NRA/UPDF, including being one of the 10 UPDF Representatives in Parliament. Gen Tumwine has also served as the Chairman of the General Court Martial, the military court. Gen Tumwine also served as Minister of State for Defence and also had a stint as the Director General of External Security Organisation (ESO).

His first post-war rank attained in 1987 was Major General, one of only three, the others being Maj Gen Salim Saleh and Maj Gen Fred Rwigyema.

2. Gen Salim Saleh aka Rufu

On this day in 1986 Gen Saleh aka Caleb Akandwanaho Rufu was the Commander of the NRA Mobile Brigade, and coordinated the overall operation that brought Kampala down. His first post-war rank was Major General and he was appointed Army Commander in 1987, replacing Gen Tumwine. Like Tumwine, Gen Saleh has also served in various capacities in the NRA/UPDF and is currently the Senior Presidential Advisor on Defence and Security.

He is also the overall Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), a government initiative to alleviate poverty. General Saleh at one time also served as Minister of State for Defence and also Finance, in charge of Micro-finance.

3. Major General Fred Gisa Rwigyema

At the time of capturing Kampala in 1986, Rwigyema was the Deputy Army Commander, also coordinating the attacking NRA forces. On awarding ranks in 1987, he was decorated with the pips of Major General by then Rwanda President Juvenal Habyarimana, a man who loathed Rwigyema’s ethnic group. Rwigyema, who at one time was Minister of State for Defence, died on October 2, while commanding Rwandan refugees in an attack on their home country, from which they had been debarred for close to 30 years.

4. Commander Fred Mugisha aka Karampenge

Commander Mugisha led the 1^st Battalion that attacked the then Lubiri Barracks. Little is known about his subsequent military undertakings in the NRA, but he reportedly died in the 1990s at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

5. Colonel Patrick Lumumba Ruyondo

Lumumba was the Commander of the 3^rd Battalion, which stormed the Central Business District (CBD) of Kampala. On awarding ranks in 1987 Lumumba was made Lieutenant Colonel and later promoted to Colonel. He died in Germany in the 1990s and was accorded state recognition. The late Col Lumumba was a son to the former Town Clerk of Masaka Nathan Ruyondo, the gentleman who gave President Museveni a getaway car that took the current president to the jungles of Luwero. He was a brother to among others city businessman Kwame Ruyondo and Doreen Ruyondo.

6. General David Sejusa (Tinyefuza)

On this day Sejusa was active along the Hoima – Masindi road, blocking any anticipated reinforcements and the fleeing UNLA soldiers. On awarding ranks in 1987 Sejusa was made Brigadier, alongside Matayo Kyaligonza and the late Tadeo Kanyakole. Like most of his colleagues Sejusa has served the army in various capacities including the most recent, the Coordinator of Intelligence Services.

In 2013 he fell out with government after penning ‘a-not-so-good’ dossier on ‘succession’ and later went into exile in the United Kingdom. He returned to Uganda from self-exile in December 2014 and has since associated with the opposition.

He at one time served as State Minister for Defence.

7. Lieutenant General Ivan Koreta

On January 26 1986 Koreta was commanding the 13^th Battalion, which combed the southern parts of Kampala like Kawempe and Bwaise. On awarding ranks in 1987 Koreta was made Lieutenant Colonel and served in many capacities in the NRA/UPDF including the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, deputizing the late General Aronda Nyakairima.

He one time served as the Director General of the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) and also served as the Chairman of the General Court Martial (GCM). Today Lieutenant General Koreta is Ambassador Designate.

8. Major General Matayo Kyaligonza aka Blackbomber

At the fall of Kampala, Senior Officer (SO) Kyaligonza commanded the 7^thBattalion and then advanced towards Jinja in the East. At the award of ranks in 1987 Kyaligonza was made Brigadier, one of only four, the others being then Brig David Tinyefuza aka Sejusa, Honorary Brig Eria Tukahirwa Kategaya.

Today, Maj Gen is Uganda’s Ambassador to Burundi and also serves as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Vice Chairman for western region.

9. Brigadier Julius Chihandae

On this day in 1986 Chihandae was commanding the 9^th Battalion, operating along the Hoima-Masindi axis. On awarding ranks in 1987, Chihandae was made Colonel, one only of three, alongside Pecos Kutesa and Joram Mugume Kanyaruhara, both now Major Generals. He went into oblivion after allegedly aiding Lt Col Kashillingi flee to Zaire (DRC) but has since been ‘rehabilitated’ and deployed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Not so long ago Chihandae, now a retired Brigadier, served as Uganda’s Military Attaché to Egypt.

10. Brigadier Peter Kerim

On capturing Kampala Kerim commanded the 19^th Battalion, which later advanced till Nebbi in West Nile. At the award of ranks in 1987 Kerim was made Lieutenant Colonel, and he also served the NRA/UPDF in various command capacities. At the time of his death in 2012 Brigadier Kerim was the Deputy Reserve Force Commander.

11. Colonel Stanley Muhangi

Thirty years ago on this day, Muhangi was commanding the NRA forces that captured Makindye Barracks. On awarding ranks in 1987, Muhangi was made Lieutenant Colonel, but was later promoted to full Colonel, the rank at which he died.

12. Colonel Samsom Mande

On January 26 Mande was commanding the 15^th Batallion. At the time of awarding ranks in 1987 Mande was made Lieutenant Colonel but was later promoted to full Colonel. He fell out with government and fled the country. He currently lives in Sweden but there are claims he plans to return. 

13. Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Kashillingi

On this day in 1986 Kashillingi was commanding the 5^th Battalion that was operating along Kampala-Entebbe Road. On awarding ranks in 1987 Kashillingi was named Lieutenant Colonel and later became Director of Records in the NRA. During his tenure records office at army headquarters, Republic House, caught fire, destroying crucial documents.

As a result, Lt Col Kashillingi fled the country and went into exile in then Zaire Republic, now the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He was pardoned and returned to a low profile life and is currently attached to the security ministry.

14. Lieutenant Colonel Jet Johnson Mwebaze

Known as a brave fighter, Jet Johnson Mwebaze was commanding the 29^th Battalion on the capture of Kampala in January 26, 1986. On awarding ranks in 1987 he was made a Captain, but was to rise to Lieutenant Colonel, a rank at which he died in 1998 following a plane crash. He was a young brother to former UPDF Army Commander Major General James Kazini Bunanukye.