By Spy Uganda
Kampala; The latest news reaching our desk indicates that Former Security Minister Gen. Elly Tumwine has passed on this morning.
According to sources, the war veteran breathed his last from Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, where he has been admitted in critical condition.
Although the government is yet to release an official statement, details about Twumwine’s death remain scantly having been announced dead several times.
Tumwine is one of the 42 people armed with 27 guns who attacked Kabamba barracks to launch the NRA protracted war that five years later in 1986 would usher the current government to power.
Having left his teaching career in 1978, Tumwine joined the FRONASA forces led by Museveni.
In 1981, when then rebel leader Yoweri Museveni went to the bush to form the National Resistance Army (NRA) after disputing the outcome of the 1980 elections, Tumwine went with him.
Tumwine is credited for having fired the first bullet that lunched the five year war of the National Resistance Army.
He has spoken elaborately about firing the first bullet during the operation that launched the Luweero bush war.
By January 1986, he was one of the six original members of the NRA High Command which later metamorphosed into the current UPDF High Command.
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.
