The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has retired Gen. Elly Tumwine posthumously. 

According to the army spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, by the time of his death, his retirement forms had already been signed and documented. 

“By the time Gen. Tumwine passed away, he was retired. The President had already signed the forms and certificates,” he said. 

Tumwine died on August 25. He was 68. 

On August 31, President Yoweri Museveni, who is also the Commander-in-Chief, officially retired  49 generals, including Tumwine (posthumously), former coordinator of intelligence, Gen. David Sejusa aka Tinyefuza, the  former chairperson of the general court martial, Lt. Gen. Andrew Gutti, Lt. Gen. Joram Mugume, Lt. Gen. Prossy Nalweyiso, Maj. Gen. Stephen Kashaka, Maj. Gen. Joram Kakari, Maj. Gen. Phinehas Katirima, Maj. Gen. Elly Kayanja, Maj. Gen. Michael Ondoga, Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Muheesi and the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Maj. Gen. David Kyomukama Kasura, among others.  

“As President and Commander in Chief of the UPDF, I am very happy to be part of the process of retirement (with ample benefits), coming to fruition for our comrades; each one of them is a miracle story of sacrifice, courage and service for little to no pay,” Museveni said. 

“As the country they have served long enough to stabilise is firm enough to take care of them now, I encourage them to utilise the retirement benefits wisely in order to make a good contribution to the economy,” he added. 

Museveni said that unlike in the past where servicemen were retired by elimination, death or prison sentencing, he was happy that the 39 generals, and other 267 officers that retired on August 30, were retiring properly. 

“We recognize the strides made to this day, a difference from the past when servicemen were retired by elimination, death or prison sentencing. Even the retired officers under the UPDF before this point have gone home without a good enough package due to constraints before,” he said.