Former Security Minister, General Elly Tumwine, has passed on this morning at Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi. UPDF Spokesperson Felix Kulayigye says the Army is coming up with an official statement. He has died aged 68.
Last week, the Bush war veteran was transferred from Nakasero Hospital to Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi, after his condition had deteriorated. He was immediately placed on life support.
The general has been reportedly battling cancer.
Elly Tumwine was born on April 12, 1954, in Burunga, Mbarara District. He attended Burunga Primary School, Mbarara High School, and St. Henry’s College Kitovu, before joining Makerere University, where in 1977, he graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art together with the Diploma in Education; abbreviated: BA (FA)/Dip. Ed. He specialized in the history of art painting.
In 1978, he interrupted his teaching career to join the FRONASA forces led by President Yoweri Museveni to fight the Idi Amin regime. In 1981, when Museveni went to the bush to form the National Resistance Army (NRA), Elly Tumwine went with him.
He is reported to have fired the first shot in the National Resistance Army War, which propelled the National Resistance Army and National Resistance Movement into power in Uganda in 1986.
During the fighting between the NRA and the UNLA, Tumwine sustained facial injuries that led to the loss of sight in one eye. In 1984, Tumwine was named Commander of the Army, a post he held until 1987, when he was succeeded by General Salim Saleh. Over the years, he served in various positions, including 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, and Chairman of the High Command Appeals Committee from 1986 until 1999.
He has also continuously represented the UPDF in the Ugandan Parliament since 1986.
In September 2005, he was promoted to the rank of general in the UPDF and named to chair the UPDF General Court Marshal.
In May last year, Tumwiine was among 34 generals who retired from the UPDF.