Lt. Gen. Kutesa died too early for the useful person he was to the army!
Lt. Gen. Kutesa died a week ago in India where he had been transferred for specialised treatment. He had been admitted at Nairobi Hospital nursing organ illnesses.
President Yoweri Museveni worked closely with the fallen Lt. Gen. Kutesa right from the days of the bush war and according to him he was an instrumental pillar.
President Museveni in his condolence message to the family of the deceased, he regretted: “Therefore, Pecos made his contribution. Dying at 65, was too early for such a useful person. May His Soul Rest in Eternal Peace.”
The President pointed out four aspects that defined the late Lt. Gen. Kutesa from the time he joined the liberation and his later years with the army. He explained in his message which we reproduce below.
The UPDF fraternity and the Kutesa Family. Condolences from the Ugandans and myself on the death of Lt. Gen. Pecos Kutesa. I remember four things about Pecos.
1. When I went to Monduli Academy to address Ugandan Officer Cadets, there were 2 very brown young people in the group of 300 that stood out on account of their complexion; Pecos & Hannington Mugabi. Mugabi died in the bush, at Kitema Masanga, shot by a colleague, accidentally.
2. When we attacked Kakiri UNLA detachment on 6/04/81, as the assault from the East of Kampala – Hoima Road was going on, standing near one of the shops, I saw Pecos crawling in the typical military way, to capture the Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) the UNLA had fled and left alone.
That was the reason I selected him to, along with Suicide, accompany me when I, on the 6th of June, 1981, crossed Lake Victoria in a 25 horsepower engine boat to Kenya, on my way to meet Muammar Gaddafi who gave us the few guns and ammo we got from outside.
3. He also took part in the battles of Masindi (20th of February, 1984) and Kabamba (1st of January,1985) as well as other battles of encounter, like the one of Mataba swamp, near Kyajinja.
4. Pecos liked reading novels!
Therefore, Pecos made his contribution. Dying at 65, was too early for such a useful person. May His Soul Rest in Eternal Peace.
Award winning journalist and writer who has worked as a stringer for a couple of acclaimed South Africa based German journalists, covered 3 Ugandan elections, 2008 Kenya election crisis, with interests in business and sports reporting.
