After nearly fifteen years in exile in South Africa, the man who alongside his colleague Mr Charles Kakooza were recently paraded to journalists by the Chief of Military Intelligence, Brig. Charles Bakahumura.
Maj. Mugizi deserted the army and fled the country in 2001 and has been serving as the FDC chairman Southern Africa Chapter.
No sooner had he been allowed to speak at the Uganda Media Centre than the burly, blunt-speaking former soldier was vowing to serve his country again – particularly claiming his tormentors former Chief of Military Intelligence, the late Brig. Noble Mayombo, and the former army commander, the late Maj. Gen. James Kazini were no-longer alive to harass him.
“I feel good to be back in my own country. I feel good to be free again. The threats were from Brig. Mayombo and Gen. Kazini who have unfortunately passed on,” Maj Mugizi told journalists.
Maj. Mugizi, who had worked for was serving at the army’s Second Division in Mbarara before he fled, later allegedly joined the People’s Redemption Army, a shadowy Ugandan rebel group that reportedly operated in eastern DR Congo.
Maj. Mugizi lived with personal friend and former presidential candidate Kizza Besigye in South Africa before the later returned in 2005 to contest for presidency the following year. Besigye denied any links with the People’s Redemption Army (PRA) and Lord Resistance Army rebel groups.
Dr. Besigye wrote in a statement on 12 April 2003 that the existence of PRA is illusionary and a concoction of the Ugandan intelligence services.
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Insisting he was never involved in rebel activities, he has since asked the Ugandan government to give him a second opportunity considering he has vast experience.
“We returned on our own free will. Being here, some sections of society will calls us spies, moles and other bad names. We know they will judge us negatively.
Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda says that is possible considering the UPDF was also involved in their return. “We participated in their (Mugizi and Kakooza) return so it is up to Maj. Mugizi to decide if he wants to come back to active service. We welcome back our officers.
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