General Elly Tumwine was laid to rest at his ancestral home in Mukuru Village Rwemikoma Sub County Kazo district Tuesday amidst a heavy downpour. The rains that started at 3:30 pm shortly after Tumwine’s widow Jolly Tumwine began to give her speech forcing the organizers to cut down on the speeches.
Tumwine’s casket was lowered into the grave at 4:50 Pm with a 17-gun salute. Tumwine 68, died in Nairobi Kenya on Thursday last week after losing the battle to lung cancer. The prime minister, Robinah Nabanja presided over the funeral as the chief mourner led by Rtd Bishop John Muhanguzi. Nabbanja appreciated the late Tumwine for being a mentor to members of Parliament and speaking the truth without fear.
Internal Affairs Minister, Kahinda Otafiire said the Tumwine was a trustworthy, resilient, and reliable person who never gave up on his ideas noting that he asked him never to abandon what they fought for. He said that the messages of the deceased’s critics will never change Tumwine’s legacy.
Tumwine’s friends and neighbors led by the former Minister of Works and Transport, John Nasasira appreciated the deceased for his love for the Ankole cattle and culture noting that his work towards democracy and the development of the country will never change despite the noise of the critics on social media and other media platforms.
Lt. Gen. Charles Otema, the Commander of Reserve Forces who read the eulogy of the Chief of Defense Forces-CDF, said that the rise of General Tumwine was God’s handwork, discipline, and selfless mentoring of the commander in Chief.
Jolly Nuwagaba Tumwine, the wife of late Tumwine surprised mourners when she said that the deceased preferred to keep his ailment a secret and directed her not to tell anybody until he was admitted to Mulago National Referal hospital.
Tumwine was born on April 12, 1954, and is survived by a widow, Jolly Nuwagaba Tumwine, with 13 children, and grandchildren. Gen Tumwine was the first National Resistance Army Commander, a post he held from 1984 until 1987, he also served as a member of parliament for 35 years, Director General External Security Organisation, Presidential advisor, Chairperson High Command Command Appeals Committee, Chairman UPDF General Court Martial and Security Minister.
By the time of his demise, Gen Elly Tumwine was among the 34 Generals lined up for retirement today.
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