General Elly Tumwine has been confirmed dead. Tumwine was flown to Nairobi for specialized treatment last week. Sources revealed he was fighting for his life.
However this morning it has now been confirmed that the singing general is no more. Tumwine He was born on 12 April 1954. He served as Security Minister in the Cabinet of Uganda, from March 2018 to 2021.
He was commander of the National Resistance Army from 1984 to 1987. Tumwine has been one of the highest-ranking members of the Ugandan military and part of the military high command.
He infamously called on police to shoot at protesters, Bobi Wine supporters suing for Human Rights violations.
After Bobi Wine was arrested on 18 November 2020 in Luuka, protests broke out which were met with excessive violence. General Tumwine said in a statement that
“the police have the right to shoot you and kill you.”
Early life and education
Elly Tumwine was born on 12 April 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.
He subsequently graduated from the Cadet Officers Course at the Tanzania Military Academy at Monduli. He also attended the Senior Command Course at the Uganda Senior Command and Staff College at Kimaka, in Jinja, Uganda, being a member of the pioneer class that graduated in 2005. Tumwine also holds further military qualifications from the military academy in Vystry, in the Soviet Union.
Millitary career
In 1978, he interrupted his teaching career to join the FRONASA forces led by 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 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
- 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.
Tumwiine was among 34 generals who were retired from the UPDF on On Monday 16 May 2022.
Tumwine the artist
While serving as the commander of the NRA, he designed the flag, the emblem, and the green and camouflage uniforms of the army.
He was appointed the chairman of the board of trustees of the National Cultural Centre. In 1992, he launched his company, The Creations Limited, to promote the arts and crafts industry, encouraging artistic values and creativity.
Tumwine was also a musician and has produced various songs.
Sanctions
Tumwine is one of the Ugandan generals currently sanctioned by the United States of America over Human rights abuses some critics say this might be the reason why he was flown to Nairobi and not to the USA for advanced treatment.
