200 NRA died in liberation war
Jun 09, 2005
THE National Resistance Army lost 200 combatants in the five- year-long liberation war, President Yoweri Museveni has said.<br>
By Joyce Namutebi
THE National Resistance Army lost 200 combatants in the five- year-long liberation war, President Yoweri Museveni has said.
He said there are 33 graves in Luweero Triangle with each containing at least 2,000 skulls of women and children who were not combatants.
He was addressing people who turned up to commemorate the 16th Heroes Day at Masulita sub-county headquarters in Luweero yesterday.
Museveni said in 1986, he asked Lt. Gen. Elly Tumwine to count NRA soldiers who had died in the liberation struggle.
“They were 200. We were fighting a scientific war, minimising casualties on our side,†he said.
He said they lost many soldiers in 1985 when the NRA attacked Mbarara, adding that 45 soldiers died in the attack that was led by Rwigyema.
He cited an incident where NRA lost nine soldiers in one battle at Bukalabi where his younger brother, Lt.Gen Caleb Akandwanaho (Salim Saleh), was wounded.
On the 33 graves, he said, “It shows you the bestiality of the regimes we were dealing with. The groups we were dealing with were criminals worse than Hitler.â€
Museveni said June 9 represents the death of the martyrs of the Movement who were massacred by former president Milton Obote’s soldiers.
He said nine NRA soldiers including the late Lutamaguzi were killed at Kikandwa on June 9 by Obote’s commander Bazillio Okello in the presence of Obote’s deputy Paulo Muwanga.
He said he was travelling to Kisumu, Kenya to meet the Libyan president, Muamar Gaddafi.
“I was not on that spot when they were killed,†he said. He said Obote’s soldiers tried to force them to reveal where the fighters were but they refused. “That is why we made this a day of heroes because they were heroes,†Museveni said.
A three-gun salute fired at the monument corner after the President’s arrival rocked the area.
The President laid a wreath on the monument for the fallen soldiers.
State minister for agriculture Kibirige Sebunya arrived one-and-a-half hours after the President.
Present was a lady, Nalima, who sheltered the NRA combatants during early days of the war.
Ends
THE National Resistance Army lost 200 combatants in the five- year-long liberation war, President Yoweri Museveni has said.
He said there are 33 graves in Luweero Triangle with each containing at least 2,000 skulls of women and children who were not combatants.
He was addressing people who turned up to commemorate the 16th Heroes Day at Masulita sub-county headquarters in Luweero yesterday.
Museveni said in 1986, he asked Lt. Gen. Elly Tumwine to count NRA soldiers who had died in the liberation struggle.
“They were 200. We were fighting a scientific war, minimising casualties on our side,†he said.
He said they lost many soldiers in 1985 when the NRA attacked Mbarara, adding that 45 soldiers died in the attack that was led by Rwigyema.
He cited an incident where NRA lost nine soldiers in one battle at Bukalabi where his younger brother, Lt.Gen Caleb Akandwanaho (Salim Saleh), was wounded.
On the 33 graves, he said, “It shows you the bestiality of the regimes we were dealing with. The groups we were dealing with were criminals worse than Hitler.â€
Museveni said June 9 represents the death of the martyrs of the Movement who were massacred by former president Milton Obote’s soldiers.
He said nine NRA soldiers including the late Lutamaguzi were killed at Kikandwa on June 9 by Obote’s commander Bazillio Okello in the presence of Obote’s deputy Paulo Muwanga.
He said he was travelling to Kisumu, Kenya to meet the Libyan president, Muamar Gaddafi.
“I was not on that spot when they were killed,†he said. He said Obote’s soldiers tried to force them to reveal where the fighters were but they refused. “That is why we made this a day of heroes because they were heroes,†Museveni said.
A three-gun salute fired at the monument corner after the President’s arrival rocked the area.
The President laid a wreath on the monument for the fallen soldiers.
State minister for agriculture Kibirige Sebunya arrived one-and-a-half hours after the President.
Present was a lady, Nalima, who sheltered the NRA combatants during early days of the war.
Ends