NRA | LIBERATION | DAY

Bukomero! The obvious imposing hills that characterize this part of Kiboga district are currently covered with pine trees. Some of the trees are planted on National Forestry Authority (NFA) land, while the others are individually owned. These trees have now created a bit of cover on the largely bare hills, covered by fair rocks and hard soils. 

These hills, which start around Kituma on the Busunju-Kiboga road up Lwamata about 15 miles away cover both sides of the road. 

On the left, behind the hills is now Kasanda district while on the left behind hills is the famous Lukoola (pasture land) that runs up to Kyankwanzi. 

In the early years of the Luwero war, it is these hills that took on the daunting task of ‘shielding’ the nascent rebel force from attacks. 

The stretch from Busunju, through Kikandwa, Kituma, Bukomero, Katera up to Lwamata saw the first consistent action by the guerrillas as they were called at the time.  

The bushes of Muwanga in Lwamata, Kasejere in Lwamata which was the selected training camp in the early years of the war and Dwaniro in Bukomero worked wonderfully to cover the rebels. 

Kasejere! This place created most of the early mid-level commanders of the NRA. 

According to Colonel Dick Bugingo, who received his training at Kasejere in the early years of the war, Kasejere sat on one of the highest peaks of these hills. 

“That village gave us military knowledge but it was also a tough place to survive in,” he said. 

Other notable officers who passed through Kasejere training camp included Late General Aronda Nyakairima, Colonel John Kazoora, Major General Mugisha Muntu, Major General Benon Biraro and many others. 

Lt. Mohammed Ssekamatte, who has been featured in many of these stories was also trained at Kasejjere, which is not far away from his home area. 

Further down the hills, about 20kms away is the River Mayanja, which runs all the way from the Mityana side, through Kapeeka to Ngoma, and enroute to River Kafu. 

This again was a natural barrier for the rebels. And then just across the River Mayanja are Kapeeka and Semuto, which gave cover to the fighters in the first half of 1981.