
Today, the announcement of Gen. Elly Tumwine death. As he died while getting treatment in Nairobi, Kenya. He was airlifted last week, as his health deteriorating. Ever since then there been speculations and also dismissals of his demise.
However, the General, the former Security Minister and Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) Member of Parliament has a legacy, which he wishes he don’t hold. People want to be eulogized in the finest manners, especially the ones who held power. In the instance of Tumwine, you cannot get both and that’s because of his his judgment while living.
Gen. Tumwine could have planted roses, built magnificent buildings and been a charitable man after he “fought” the liberation war. He decided to do other things. Server the new regime and be the face of impunity. Tumwine wanted to show force and be reckoned with. That’s why nobody should look into his action or be transparent about it. This is why he blocked MPs from investigating in person at ungazetted “safe-houses” and neither has he served any consequences for using lethal weapons on protesting civilians up to the General Election of 2021.
So, the people wanting sympathy and eulogises of wisdom, mercy and mere legends. Well, that isn’t who he is. Yes “he fought” a selfish war for personal gains to grab land and power. That’s why he used “we fought” on a regular basis. He was part of the 1986 brigade that acted above the law and didn’t have pay for their misdeeds. While others would be severely punished by the same group of gentlemen.
Within family or friends, he might be soft-spoken, a loving father, uncle and buddy. That side the public didn’t see. Neither did they care if he loved music or not. When he could be part of system that kidnapped, tortured and kept civilians incommunicado in safe-houses with no prior conviction or trial. Those sorts of acts will be a mere reflection of his actions while living.
He chose this life and the burden of acting like this. The ones who wants a heroes journey and a braggadocios end. Well, that for someone else… that was maybe the beginning of his journey, as he participated in the liberation war or bush war in the 1980s. However, everything he did since then wasn’t noble and he became part of another dictatorship. Yes, he stopped the previous ones, but he ushered in a new one. Where he thrived and lingered in the offices of power. Where he was used as a tool and a face of injustice. He didn’t mind and kept on doing his business.
So, when all the innocent people has been touched by this man. All the people that lost their lives and the ones who are scared for life. The families who has lost their loved ones, the breadwinners, the fathers, the mothers and the sons or daughters. They never got a proper chance to say goodbye. Because, Gen. Tumwine had decided their fate. He accepted the merciless acts of injustice and he served it, time and time again. That was what he did with his role and his time on earth.
He could have painted pictures, written novels, a teacher of leadership or even bravery, as he stood in the battle and lost an eye doing so. Nevertheless, he didn’t do that. The sacrifices he made got paid back thousands of times. He got office, shillings and perks, because of what he did. The bills got paid and he got treatment of an honourable. That’s why it’s not like he didn’t earn on the bush-war. He did and he thought he was entitled to it.
One of the “We Fought” is now gone. One of the men who carried out order without mercy. Has now left earth. Now, the NRM and the UPDF will salute the man. He served them kindly, but not the people. Peace.










