The former Coordinator of Intelligence Services spoke on behalf of over 30 UPDF generals at State House Entebbe who were retired in the most high-profile retirement ever done by the UPDF.
Gen Sejusa was the only Four-Star General among the retirees after Gen Elly Tumwine who had been scheduled to speak on behalf of the retirees died and was buried yesterday.
Gen Sejusa on behalf of retiring officers paid tribute to His Excellency the President for providingl leadershipduring the struggle, the army leadership and the people of Uganda without which there wouldn’t be peace.
“I am proud to belong to NRA/UPDF, which has made incredible strides. I thank the people of Uganda from all regions for theirs sacrifices We all know there was a phase in our struggle when our civilian population was the vanguard. They were our eyes, the ears, our protectors. They fed us and this phase took a bigger part of 1981. They gathered intelligence, they carried out reconnaissance missions for us to acquire small arms and so on. If we did not have the population on our side, then there would be no NRA/UPDF and certainly NRM,” Gen Sejusa said, adding that it’s not easy to keep a country peaceful for 40 years.
Gen Sejusa noted that however much a lot has been done, a lot is yet to be achieved to consolidate the victories and the mission to liberate Africa.
“Therefore, continue training, take advantage of the opportunities being provided, make sure that you deepen your ideological horizons but above all, love your nation and honor the people of Uganda always. They’re special people for there’s no greater honour than serving the people,” Gen Sejusa added.
He saluted the President for the opportunity to serve the people of Uganda and for the victories and achievements registered.
Gen Sejusa has on several occasions fallen out with the government of President Museveni when he was still in active military service.
Most of the retirees have served more than four decades and their retirement paves way for the young officers to take the command of the UPDF.
Among those who have retired is Lt Gen Proscovia Nalweyiso, the most senior female army officer in Uganda’s military history.
Lt Gen Nalweyiso who has been serving as a presidential aid ends her military career which she started in 1982. She served as the head of women wing during the five-year war in Luwero and after the National Resistance Army, now UPDF captured power.
The retirement of these officers marks the end of the end of the career of these officers who fought fierce battles that brought Museveni to power in 1986.
Lt Gen John Mugume, a soft spoken general who carried out deadly and hair-raising reconnaissance operations is also retiring.
He was in 1985 sent to spy on Kabamba barracks to see if the guns they had wanted to capture during the first attack on the barracks on February 6 failed.
He entered the barracks and kidnaped a soldier who gave them information about the guns before the NRA attacked again and captured hundreds of guns.
Others who are retiring are Maj Gen Stephen Kashaka and his brother Brig Francis Kashaka, Maj Gen Phenehas Katirima, Lt Gen Andrew Gutti, Maj Gen Francis Okello.
Maj Gen Elly Kayanja who formerly worked as Director General of Internal Security Organisation, Brig Michael Ondoga are also retiring.
