Fare thee well, man of all seasons
May 05, 2007
AN astute orator, an accomplished intellectual, an intelligent military officer, a charming man, somebody who walked as fast as he spoke, a consistent debater: all these qualities and many more characterise the late Brigadier Noble Mayombo, a lawyer by profession and at the time of his death the Per
AN astute orator, an accomplished intellectual, an intelligent military officer, a charming man, somebody who walked as fast as he spoke, a consistent debater: all these qualities and many more characterise the late Brigadier Noble Mayombo, a lawyer by profession and at the time of his death the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence.
Born to Canon James and Mrs. Rabwoni, the late Brigadier joined the National Resistance Army in 1985 in Fort Portal. By joining the guerilla forces, he voted to fight against dictatorship, sacrificing his life for the cause of freedom.
His qualities of a revolutionary, intellectual and leader were quickly noticed in the struggle. Indeed, the NRA leadership appointed him an Intelligence Officer at the school of Political Education in Entebbe in 1986.
The political school was seen as the centre of building a strong cadreship of a conscious, politicised NRA, as opposed to the mechanical discipline of the previous armies. Appointing young Noble at the heart of this exercise was a vote of confidence in his abilities.
In 1988, the late Mayombo was moved to Gulu to head the political education programme in the Fourth Division. Gulu was at the time at the heart of combat operations against the counter-revolutionary forces.
It was here more than anywhere else that the NRA needed to enlighten its soldiers on the aims of the revolution: to end dictatorship and usher in democratic governance, economic development and social transformation.
While still battling with counter-insurgents of Lakwena, the NRA allowed combatants like Noble Mayombo, James Mugira, Godfrey Katsigazi and Shaban Bantariza to go back to school and complete their studies, which they had abandoned for the revolution.
This was another sign by the NRA that the army was no longer a preserve for failures in life.
Back at university, Mayombo, then 2Lt, became the first “government backed†Guild Presidential candidate at Makerere University to loose an election and accept defeat. He lost to Norbert Mao.
In the past, when a pro-government candidate lost elections, he would be imposed onto the university, as shown by the flight of Opiyo Oloya and Ebiru Otto, both DP candidates.
At the age of 29, Noble Mayombo was the youngest delegate at the Constituent Assembly. He represented the army after being elected by the Army Council.
During the debates, he impressed everybody with his vision and brilliance. President Museveni did not fail to notice his potential and appointed him his aide de camp, to the disgruntlement of some.
Despite his fast rise, he remained a person of great humility. The world remembers this lawyer and Captain by rank on his knees tying the shoe laces of the President at a public rally.
As the bible says “the humble shall be exalted†and Mayombo saw himself once again elected by the Army Council to represent the UPDF in the Sixth and the Seventh Parliament.
His contributions in Parliament were as effective as his leadership in the Joint Anti- Terrorism Task Force during the ADF bombing campaign in Kampala.
When the President appointed him Deputy Chief of Military Intelligence, those who had known him to be a political debater thought this was a contradiction.
But it saved the country from sliding into chaos at the hands of the PRA. For some, especially the opponents of the regime, this is the black spot on the otherwise illustrious carrier of a brilliant officer.
They are wrong. Mayombo was a dedicated and loyal officer. As a lawyer, he understood the oath of allegiance he had taken and he lived by its letter and spirit.
The appointing authority trusted his capabilities and wherever he went, he performed with excellence.
With his appointment as permanent secretary, some people expected friction between him and the civil servants in the Ministry of Defence. To the contrary, not only did Mayombo fit in smoothly, he also championed the principle of unity of the Ministry of Defence and the UPDF.
As permanent secretary, Mayombo was the strongest mid-fielder in the team at the Bombo headquarters, working day and night to realise the dream of a professional, efficient, pro-people and accountable army.
Mayombo has left this world at a time when Uganda joined the community of nations that help others by way of peace-keeping operations, a time we needed him most.
We will all remember him as a loyal, dedicated, patriotic and revolutionary officer who loved his job, his army, his President and his country.
LASTA ALA VICTORIA, SIEMPRÉ.
Maj. Felix Kulayigye
UPDF spokesman
Born to Canon James and Mrs. Rabwoni, the late Brigadier joined the National Resistance Army in 1985 in Fort Portal. By joining the guerilla forces, he voted to fight against dictatorship, sacrificing his life for the cause of freedom.
His qualities of a revolutionary, intellectual and leader were quickly noticed in the struggle. Indeed, the NRA leadership appointed him an Intelligence Officer at the school of Political Education in Entebbe in 1986.
The political school was seen as the centre of building a strong cadreship of a conscious, politicised NRA, as opposed to the mechanical discipline of the previous armies. Appointing young Noble at the heart of this exercise was a vote of confidence in his abilities.
In 1988, the late Mayombo was moved to Gulu to head the political education programme in the Fourth Division. Gulu was at the time at the heart of combat operations against the counter-revolutionary forces.
It was here more than anywhere else that the NRA needed to enlighten its soldiers on the aims of the revolution: to end dictatorship and usher in democratic governance, economic development and social transformation.
While still battling with counter-insurgents of Lakwena, the NRA allowed combatants like Noble Mayombo, James Mugira, Godfrey Katsigazi and Shaban Bantariza to go back to school and complete their studies, which they had abandoned for the revolution.
This was another sign by the NRA that the army was no longer a preserve for failures in life.
Back at university, Mayombo, then 2Lt, became the first “government backed†Guild Presidential candidate at Makerere University to loose an election and accept defeat. He lost to Norbert Mao.
In the past, when a pro-government candidate lost elections, he would be imposed onto the university, as shown by the flight of Opiyo Oloya and Ebiru Otto, both DP candidates.
At the age of 29, Noble Mayombo was the youngest delegate at the Constituent Assembly. He represented the army after being elected by the Army Council.
During the debates, he impressed everybody with his vision and brilliance. President Museveni did not fail to notice his potential and appointed him his aide de camp, to the disgruntlement of some.
Despite his fast rise, he remained a person of great humility. The world remembers this lawyer and Captain by rank on his knees tying the shoe laces of the President at a public rally.
As the bible says “the humble shall be exalted†and Mayombo saw himself once again elected by the Army Council to represent the UPDF in the Sixth and the Seventh Parliament.
His contributions in Parliament were as effective as his leadership in the Joint Anti- Terrorism Task Force during the ADF bombing campaign in Kampala.
When the President appointed him Deputy Chief of Military Intelligence, those who had known him to be a political debater thought this was a contradiction.
But it saved the country from sliding into chaos at the hands of the PRA. For some, especially the opponents of the regime, this is the black spot on the otherwise illustrious carrier of a brilliant officer.
They are wrong. Mayombo was a dedicated and loyal officer. As a lawyer, he understood the oath of allegiance he had taken and he lived by its letter and spirit.
The appointing authority trusted his capabilities and wherever he went, he performed with excellence.
With his appointment as permanent secretary, some people expected friction between him and the civil servants in the Ministry of Defence. To the contrary, not only did Mayombo fit in smoothly, he also championed the principle of unity of the Ministry of Defence and the UPDF.
As permanent secretary, Mayombo was the strongest mid-fielder in the team at the Bombo headquarters, working day and night to realise the dream of a professional, efficient, pro-people and accountable army.
Mayombo has left this world at a time when Uganda joined the community of nations that help others by way of peace-keeping operations, a time we needed him most.
We will all remember him as a loyal, dedicated, patriotic and revolutionary officer who loved his job, his army, his President and his country.
LASTA ALA VICTORIA, SIEMPRÉ.
Maj. Felix Kulayigye
UPDF spokesman