Former Security Minister Gen Elly Tumwine, has died at the age of 68.

The bush-war general has been fighting for his life at the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, where he was airlifted two weeks ago.

Gen Tumwine’s health had been a subject of public speculation for a while, even when he was still a Cabinet minister.

The National Resistance Army (NRA) historical had been away from the public eye ever since he was dropped from Cabinet in June 2021.

Relatives and associates reported that the bush war general collapsed at the marriage ceremony of a prominent female journalist last month, and was later booked at Nakasero Hospital in Kampala.

His condition, however, worsened prompting referral to Nairobi for more specialised medical care.

The UPDF is yet to issue an official statement in regard to the four-star general’s death.

Military Background

Joining the army in 1978 , Tumwine later joined then rebel leader Yoweri Museveni to the bush to form the National Resistance Army (NRA).

In 1984, he was named commander of the army, a post he held for three years until 1987, when he was succeeded by General Salim Saleh.

In September 2005, he was promoted to the rank of general in the UPDF and chairperson of the UPDF General Court Martial in Makindye where among the persons arraigned before him was opposition strongman, Dr.Kizza Besigye and charged with treason.

The case was later transferred to the civilian court.

During his career, Gen Tumwine also served as Minister of State for Defence in 1989, Director General of the External Security Organization (ESO) from 1994 until 1996, presidential adviser on security from 1996 until 1998, chairman of the High Command Appeals Committee from 1986 until 1999.

Tumwine has also previously represented the UPDF in the Parliament.

Museveni’s statement

DEATH ANNOUNCEMENT 

Countrymen and Countrywomen, especially the NRM- NRA- UPDF fraternity.  

With deep sorrow, I announce the death of General Elly Tumwiine which occurred at 5:46am this morning in Nairobi, from lung cancer. 

According to his widow, with whom I have just talked to on telephone, Gen. Tumwiine was now 68 years old. I had taught him at Burunga Primary School in 1967, after our A-levels, as a student teacher, before going to University, later that year. 

He joined FRONASA with 9000 others in 1979, went to Monduli Military School in Tanzania and was the one who fired the first shot on the 6th February, 1981, at Kabamba, at the beginning of the 1981-1986 war of Resistance.  

Since that time, Gen. Tumwiine has been part of the leadership of the NRA- UPDF as well as serving the government in various capacities.  

Those capacities included being Army- Commander, member of the High Command, Director-General Intelligence, Minister of Security, etc. 

He has been a dedicated and hardworking cadre. More will be said about him later. 

Condolences to his family, to the NRA-UPDF- NRM fraternity and to all Ugandans. 

May his soul rest in eternal peace. 

Signed: 

YOWERI K. MUSEVENI

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA