Otafiire, Muhwezi become Generals
Jan 31, 2005
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has promoted controversial lands minister Col. Kahinda Otafiire to major-general and retired him from the army. Otafiire, who joined the NRA bush struggle in June 1981, had been a colonel since 1988. He has held various posts both in the liberation struggle and in the Gover
By Felix Osike
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has promoted controversial lands minister Col. Kahinda Otafiire to major-general and retired him from the army. Otafiire, who joined the NRA bush struggle in June 1981, had been a colonel since 1988. He has held various posts both in the liberation struggle and in the Government.
One time after he was sacked from the Cabinet on radio, he said he had the capacity to cause trouble.
He was reinstated later.
Twenty-six junior and senior officers and one non-commissioned officer also received their discharge certificates from the Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, at a ceremony at Bombo army headquarters.
Otafiire, who skipped the rank of brigadier, said, “This is an emotional occasion in that I am now making a formal de-linking with a service I have been in since 1972. I am glad that the guerillas of those days are now retiring as the generals of the army. We have walked a long way, had our shortcomings and many achievements,†he said.
There was drama when Otafiire went to the podium for decoration but his pips for the new rank could not be traced. He retreated uncomfortably to his seat but was called back five minutes later.
“We are retired but we are not tired. We are only going to defend our people through other means. We are only a phone call away and if necessary we shall come and support you,†health minister Jim Muhwezi declared after he was also decorated a major-general and retired. Muhwezi was a brigadier.
“This is yet another landmark in the history of the country and a score for the NRM. It is a privilege for us at this ceremony to have survived and lived to see this day,†he said.
Muhwezi, who in March 1981 escaped from prison to join the NRA, said he would remain loyal to President Museveni.
“I am now free to participate in the politics of the country. We are now going to take sides. I am going to participate in the political arena on the side of the NRMO,†he said.
Nyakairima said President Yoweri Museveni, the commander-in-chief of the UPDF, promoted the officers on the advice of the army’s Commissions Board. He criticised those who alleged that the army had refused to let them go.
“There has been talk that they regret having served in an institution that has turned out to be a prison. It is not a prison and it will not be a prison. The army has regulations and we have to follow the law and procedures,†said Aronda.
Brig. Sam Nanyumba, a former NRA/UPDF chief of staff, was promoted to a major-general and retired at 65 years. Nanyumba, who was also former ambassador to Rwanda, urged the army administration to urgently process their retirement package so that they do not end up on the street. Aronda said sh600m had been budgeted for the retirement of several officers.
Former LC5 chairman for Mubende district Kasirye Gwanga was the only retiring officer promoted to a brigadier from colonel. Asked whether he would re-join politics, he replied, “That is a crazy game.â€
A towering Lt. Col. Walter Ochora, the Gulu district chairman, the East African Community Secretary General Maj. Amanya Mushega and state minister for communications Tom Butime were promoted to colonels and also discharged from the force.
Mushega abandoned his PhD studies at the prestigious London School of Economics to join the struggle in 1981. Mushega, who is on official trip to Germany, was represented by his wife Alex Mushega. Butime was represented by Capt. Kato.
Ochora received a thunderous applause when it was announced he led the 1985 coup, which overthrew the Obote regime.
Ochora, who participated in the signing of the peace accord between the NRA and the UPDA in June 1988, said he was now free to campaign for the Movement.
MPs Lt. Jimmy Kinobe and Lt. Mulindwa Birimumaso were promoted to a major and a captain respectively and retired. Kyaka MP Badru Katongole was promoted from Warrant Officer 11 to Warrant Officer 1 and retired.
Those who were retired without promotion were Col. Arthur Musinguzi, the former director of finance, Col. Nasur Izaruk Amin, Lt. Col. Tonny Otoa, Lt. Apollo Marufu, Lt. Col. John Mugyenyi, Lt. Col. Charles Namundanyi, Maj. Bright Rwamirama, Maj. John Kazoora, Maj. Joseph Smart Kakoza the current Mubende district chairman and Maj. Alex Dragu.
Rwamirama said he would become politically active while Kazoora said he was completing his masters degree in Public Administration and Management and concentrate on politics.
Others given discharge certificates were Capt. Guma Gumusiriza, Capt. Charles Byaruhanga, Capt. Samuel Nsubuga, Capt. Benon Twinomujuni and Lt. Steven Kazoora.
The Chief of Personnel and Administration, Col. David Wakalo, said the ceremony had been postponed twice because of the delay in compiling the data.
Aronda said the army was aware of the unaccomplished mission of bringing peace and stability to the whole country.
“We cannot rest, we cannot become complacent until the whole country is peaceful,†he said adding that the recent peace agreement between the SPLA and Khartoum would deal a blow to Kony rebels. “It is a question of time that the entire north will be peaceful and the people get out of the Internally displaced people’s camps,†he said.
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has promoted controversial lands minister Col. Kahinda Otafiire to major-general and retired him from the army. Otafiire, who joined the NRA bush struggle in June 1981, had been a colonel since 1988. He has held various posts both in the liberation struggle and in the Government.
One time after he was sacked from the Cabinet on radio, he said he had the capacity to cause trouble.
He was reinstated later.
Twenty-six junior and senior officers and one non-commissioned officer also received their discharge certificates from the Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, at a ceremony at Bombo army headquarters.
Otafiire, who skipped the rank of brigadier, said, “This is an emotional occasion in that I am now making a formal de-linking with a service I have been in since 1972. I am glad that the guerillas of those days are now retiring as the generals of the army. We have walked a long way, had our shortcomings and many achievements,†he said.
There was drama when Otafiire went to the podium for decoration but his pips for the new rank could not be traced. He retreated uncomfortably to his seat but was called back five minutes later.
“We are retired but we are not tired. We are only going to defend our people through other means. We are only a phone call away and if necessary we shall come and support you,†health minister Jim Muhwezi declared after he was also decorated a major-general and retired. Muhwezi was a brigadier.
“This is yet another landmark in the history of the country and a score for the NRM. It is a privilege for us at this ceremony to have survived and lived to see this day,†he said.
Muhwezi, who in March 1981 escaped from prison to join the NRA, said he would remain loyal to President Museveni.
“I am now free to participate in the politics of the country. We are now going to take sides. I am going to participate in the political arena on the side of the NRMO,†he said.
Nyakairima said President Yoweri Museveni, the commander-in-chief of the UPDF, promoted the officers on the advice of the army’s Commissions Board. He criticised those who alleged that the army had refused to let them go.
“There has been talk that they regret having served in an institution that has turned out to be a prison. It is not a prison and it will not be a prison. The army has regulations and we have to follow the law and procedures,†said Aronda.
Brig. Sam Nanyumba, a former NRA/UPDF chief of staff, was promoted to a major-general and retired at 65 years. Nanyumba, who was also former ambassador to Rwanda, urged the army administration to urgently process their retirement package so that they do not end up on the street. Aronda said sh600m had been budgeted for the retirement of several officers.
Former LC5 chairman for Mubende district Kasirye Gwanga was the only retiring officer promoted to a brigadier from colonel. Asked whether he would re-join politics, he replied, “That is a crazy game.â€
A towering Lt. Col. Walter Ochora, the Gulu district chairman, the East African Community Secretary General Maj. Amanya Mushega and state minister for communications Tom Butime were promoted to colonels and also discharged from the force.
Mushega abandoned his PhD studies at the prestigious London School of Economics to join the struggle in 1981. Mushega, who is on official trip to Germany, was represented by his wife Alex Mushega. Butime was represented by Capt. Kato.
Ochora received a thunderous applause when it was announced he led the 1985 coup, which overthrew the Obote regime.
Ochora, who participated in the signing of the peace accord between the NRA and the UPDA in June 1988, said he was now free to campaign for the Movement.
MPs Lt. Jimmy Kinobe and Lt. Mulindwa Birimumaso were promoted to a major and a captain respectively and retired. Kyaka MP Badru Katongole was promoted from Warrant Officer 11 to Warrant Officer 1 and retired.
Those who were retired without promotion were Col. Arthur Musinguzi, the former director of finance, Col. Nasur Izaruk Amin, Lt. Col. Tonny Otoa, Lt. Apollo Marufu, Lt. Col. John Mugyenyi, Lt. Col. Charles Namundanyi, Maj. Bright Rwamirama, Maj. John Kazoora, Maj. Joseph Smart Kakoza the current Mubende district chairman and Maj. Alex Dragu.
Rwamirama said he would become politically active while Kazoora said he was completing his masters degree in Public Administration and Management and concentrate on politics.
Others given discharge certificates were Capt. Guma Gumusiriza, Capt. Charles Byaruhanga, Capt. Samuel Nsubuga, Capt. Benon Twinomujuni and Lt. Steven Kazoora.
The Chief of Personnel and Administration, Col. David Wakalo, said the ceremony had been postponed twice because of the delay in compiling the data.
Aronda said the army was aware of the unaccomplished mission of bringing peace and stability to the whole country.
“We cannot rest, we cannot become complacent until the whole country is peaceful,†he said adding that the recent peace agreement between the SPLA and Khartoum would deal a blow to Kony rebels. “It is a question of time that the entire north will be peaceful and the people get out of the Internally displaced people’s camps,†he said.