Makerere University on Thursday mourned Gen. Elly Tumwine, one of its prominent alumnus who passed away in a hospital in the Kenyan capital Nairobi. 

In a statement, the University said, “Makerere has learned with deep sadness the passing of one of our outstanding alumnus former Minister of Security Gen. Tumwine. Our sincere condolences go to his family, friends, armed forces, and the nation of Uganda.” 

The University further said Gen. Tumwine graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Arts-Fine Art from Makerere University in 1977. 

Born on April 12 1954, in Burunga, Mbarara district, Gen. Tumwine attended Burunga Primary School, Mbarara High School and St. Henry's College Kitovu, from where he joined Makerere University, graduating in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art together with the Diploma in Education. 

He specialized in the history of art painting. In 1978, he quit his teaching career and joined the Front for National Salvation, which was led by President Yoweri Museveni to fight the Idi Amin regime and trained as an officer cadet in Monduli, which is one of the seven districts of the Arusha Region of Tanzania. 

 In 1981, when Museveni went to the bush to form the National Resistance Army (NRA), Gen. Tumwine went with him and is credited with firing the first shot during the attack on Kabamba on February 6, 1981. 

He lost his right eye in during fighting when he was injured in Bukomero as they attacked the then Government forces. 1984, Tumwine was named Commander of the Army, a post he held until 1987 when he was succeeded by General Salim Saleh.  

He also served in several other positions in Government, which included; 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. 

Tumwine also continuously represented the UPDF in the Ugandan Parliament from 1986 to 2021. 

In September 2005, he was promoted to the rank of general in the UPDF and named to chair the UPDF General Court Marshal. 

On 16 May 2022, Tumwiine was among 34 generals who retired from the UPDF.