Vice President (Rtd) Maj. Jessica Alupo has asked senior officers of the UPDF to emulate Maj. Gen. George Igumba by profiling their autobiographies which will inspire other junior officers and use them as references in the force.  

Alupo, who is also known as Mutesi, a kisoga name, made the remarks as she was officiating at the launch of the ‘Born to Win’, a book authored by Maj. Gen. Igumba, the Commandant of Senior Command and Staff College Kimaka, at Civil Service College of Uganda in Jinja City on Friday. 

The book is also subtitled, “From Bastardhood to Generalship”. 

According to Alupo, she knew Maj. Gen. Igumba for the last 26 years when he was chief instructor at the School of Infantry in Jinja when her colleagues and herself under intake five trained as officer cadets for UPDF from April 1998 to May 31, 1999. 

“I wish to take this opportunity to thank Igumba for shaping us officers into the responsible citizens who we are today and I hope Igumba’s achievement inspires other citizens to write about their memos,” Alupo said. 

Vice President Jessica Alupo (Front row 4th left), the Minister of General Duties in the Office of Prime Minister Justine Kasule Lumumba (4th right), Maj. Gen. George Igumba (back row 2nd left) and wife (back row left) in a group photograph with pupils of Victory Nursery and Primary School-Nakirubi after launching the 'Born to Win' book at Civil Service College of Uganda in Jinja City on Friday.

She further said that when President Yoweri Museveni received Igumba’s letter notifying him about the book launch event, he directed Gen. Proscovia Nalweyiso to release sh150 million towards supporting the completion of the occasion adding that the President also directed the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs to buy 500 copies of the Born to Win book and place them in libraries across the country.

“The generation of senior army officers to which Maj. Gen. Igumba belongs, who have served for 40 years in his team are either retired or about to retire, it is therefore only fit and proper that as they retire from service, they leave the young generation of officers with a book that they can visit as and when they need inspiration straight to keep going, courage to soldier hood while the going gets tough and a shoulder to lean on when challenges come their way,” Alupo explained. 

She further said that Igumba has established an indelible mark and permanent guidance and counsel to the young generation through this book and his patience and contribution towards the stability of the country will always be felt and remembered. 

Alupo later bought two books at sh20 million and gifted them to the Busoga East diocesan bishop Hannington Suubi and Fr. Richard Kayaga of the Cultural Research Centre in Jinja. 

In his remarks read by Lt. Gen. Ivan Koreta, the Minister of State for Trade, Gen. Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, congratulated Igumba for writing the book that summarises his biography. 

“In the book, Igumba encouraged young men and women to always be who they are, to work hard and focus on their dreams, what they are supposed to do, give it all their energy and force in what they are supposed to do in order to excel in their life and carrier,” Gen. Mbadi stated. 

The Minister of General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister, Justine Lumumba Kasule said “Your Excellency we are here because Igumba survived the snakes in the villages, survived the tsetse flies, survived walking long distances to collect water and survived going to school kilometres away.” 

Lumumba, in a special way, thanked Igumba’s wife who has been strong in waiting for a period of 24 years to get a ring or get married. She bought the book at sh500,000.  

His book details his journey from obscurity to prominence — a powerful narrative of transformation and resilience. 

It symbolises the remarkable rise of an individual from humble beginnings to a position of authority and influence. 

Igumba's journey encompasses overcoming numerous obstacles, setbacks, and challenges along the way. 

The Journey From Bastardhood To Generalship serves as a testament to the human spirit's ability to transcend limitations and achieve greatness. 

Igumba hopes his book will inspire others to believe in their potential, pursue their dreams with vigour, and never lose sight of their goals. 

Ultimately, the book underscores the transformative power of resilience, perseverance, and unwavering determination in shaping destinies and making extraordinary accomplishments possible. 

Igumba mentioned some of the insights in his book which included the day he first got to know his biological mother at the age of 18 years in 1977 detailed in chapter I page 3 and chapter II page 37; the period he worked as a tout on his brother in law pickup in November 1978 to January 1979 detailed in chapter III on page 48 and the day he joined the army on July 27, 1980, detailed in chapter IV on page 63, 66 and 68.   

Other insights included the day he first flew in an aeroplane from Entebbe to Nairobi; from Nairobi to Lagos in Nigeria in a Boeing 707 and in a Caravan from Lagos to Kaduna in the North; the day he fell in love at first sight with her wife Roseline whom she calls the ‘Young Girl’ on Monday, April 11, 1983, detailed in chapter VI on page 13, 133 and 134; and the day he drove himself to the gallows during the first quarter of 1999 detailed in chapter VII on page 185 and 186. 

Igumba revealed that, with a percentage of the book’s proceeds, he intends to invest in enhancing the likes of the disadvantaged through furthering their education and forming a charity foundation is his aspiration as he prepares for his retirement which is overdue. 

Notable guests at the book launch event also include Lt. Gen. Rusoke, Lt Gen. Nakibus Lakara, Maj. Gen. Francis Okello (Commandant of National Defence College), Brig. Gen. Charles Oluka (director of the Internal Security Agency), Aggrey Wunyi the undersecretary Ministry of Internal Affairs, Fr Richard Kayaga of Cultural Research Centre, Dr Rev. Joy Mukisa the deputy Vicar Christ Cathedral-Bugembe, diplomatic corps and Busoga Kingdom's premier Dr Joseph Muvawala. 

Others included Members of Parliament who hail from Busoga including Luke Kyobe Inhensiko (Luuka North), Milton Muwuma (Kigulu South), Sauda Alibawo (Woman MP Iganga), Dr. Timothy Batuwa (Jinja South West Constituency), Racheal Magoola (Woman MP Bugweri), Esther Mbayo (Woman MP Luuka) and Iddi Isabirye (Bunya South) among others. 

Later Vice President Alupo launched the ‘Born to Win’ book together with several other dignitaries.