When Museveni walked 200km to honour NRA guerrilla struggle

Jan 02, 2020

We revisit the trek as it unfolded in the news and the fascinating interactions he had with the numerous Ugandans along the way.

President Yoweri Museveni is set to take part in a 6-day trek through seven districts of Wakiso, Nakaseke, Mityana, Kiboga, Kasandha, Mubende and Kakumiro on Saturday and among other things retracing routes that the National Resistance Army fighters used during the liberation struggle.

Museveni will lead veterans, youth and well-wishers in the symbolic trek code-named 'Africa Kwetu' covering almost 195km from Garamba in Wakiso district to Birembo in Kibaale district will now camp at 8 sites to celebrate the freedom fighters' heroic sacrifices for patriotism.

The trek will culminate into the building a historic NRA Museum at Kanyara in Nakaseke district.

The trek organised by the NRA Archives Unit and headed by the President's senior advisor/NRA, Alice Kaboyo, comes 20 years after Museveni did the same trek in 1999.

New Vision was on hand to document President Museveni's trek back in 1999 and here we revisit the trek as it unfolded in the news and the fascinating interactions he had with the numerous Ugandans along the way.

Museveni in 200km pilgrimage (January 3)

President Yoweri Museveni yesterday began a 200km-walk to retrace NRA guerrilla bases in the Luweero Triangle.

Museveni said the walk from the Luweero jungle to Birembo, Kibaale, will enable him find ways to improve household incomes.

Museveni, wearing military uniform, yesterday walked deep into Galamba forest to visit his first tactical headquarters about 30km north of Kampala where the guerrillas launched an assault on Kabamba military barracks, Mubende.

The emotional and historic event was witnessed by 10 ministers, area MPs, war veterans and local leaders.

resident useveni and irst ady anet useveni during prayer at irembo ile hotoPresident Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni during prayer at Birembo. File Photo

 

In Galamba forest where Museveni addressed former guerrilla fighters, he was shown a rusty metallic cup he drunk from during the bush war. There was also an old tin of canned beef and a hoe. Museveni visited nearby homes and consoled residents who lost relatives to the war.

He laid a wreath on the tombs of the late guerrilla chief coordinator, Irinaali Lubega Kalule, gave sh200,000 to the family and promised to build them a house.

"I want to walk from here (Galamba) to Birembo because when you are flying or driving you will not see much of the places, especially the households," Museveni said.

 

"Muslims go to Mecca, the Catholics to Rome, the Movement should also come here where we fought. That's what am doing."

He donated sh5m to Galamba and Kavule parishes to start a fund to commemorate the launch of the war.

He promised to rehabilitate St. Kizito Primary School at Galamba that was destroyed in the war. He said several people were killed in the area in search of good governance.

Museveni launches Luweero fund (January 4)

President Yoweri Museveni has launched a special fund to improve household income in his former fighting bases in the Luweero Triangle. He said the money will be distributed to some parishes as a case study.

If the scheme succeeds, it will then be extended to other parts of the country. Museveni was speaking yesterday during his second leg of a 200km-walk through the Triangle at Kirema, Semuto. About 10 ministers, MPs, army officers, religious and local leaders attended the rally.

"I have decided to start a small fund in places where I stopped before launching the last attack on Kabamba barracks," Museveni told a large gathering at Kirema Primary School.

He said he was looking at ways the fund will be well distributed, adding that he does not intend to use politicians because they mishandled the entandikwa loans. Museveni gave sh5m to Luweero War Veterans Association in Kufu and Kirema parishes each. He also gave the same amount to Kufu residents.

 aj en eje dongo acting  ohn isembo and aj en untu at irembo in ibaale during the treks activities in 1999 ile hoto(L-R) Maj. Gen. Jeje Odongo, acting IGP John Kisembo and Maj. Gen. Muntu at Birembo, in Kibaale during the trek's activities in 1999. File Photo

 

Kavule and Galamba parishes in Mpigi had received donations the previous day. Museveni said more funds will be distributed as he continues the journey but cautioned the fund is not akasiimo (reward) and the beneficiaries will pay it back. Museveni, who slept in a tent at Kufu on Sunday night, deplored the poor nutrition levels among the population.

Kufu is a few metres from the home of his former guide, Luttamaguzi who was killed by the UNLA troops during the bush war.

"There is a problem of nutrition. What should have been food is used as medicine. A person's body is like a house. If you don't use enough cement, it will crumble," Museveni said.

He gave an example of nkejje (small fish) used to give proteins instead people prescribe them as medicine for sick children. He said, "If you see a person with dokoli (goitre) all these are signs of bad feeding. Know that the food that person ate did not have Iodine." He said a law has been put in place banning the importation of uniodised salt.

resident useveni salutes at the grave of pt usisi at irembo ile hotoPresident Museveni salutes at the grave of Cpt. Musisi at Birembo. File Photo

 

Museveni said university graduates and diploma holders will be deployed at each sub-county to guide the peasants on how to eradicate poverty. At the rally, he announced plans to tarmac the Matugga-Kapeeka road.

Luweero Resident District Commissioner Simon Mulongo said roads under the Central government are in poor condition and should be rehabilitated urgently.

He said the district had worked out a programme to ensure security in the area. The LC5 chief Abdu Nadduli said residents have accused the Movement of forgetting them after the armed struggle to overthrow the Obote II government.

He said, the district has poverty eradication programmes but cannot be fulfilled due to lack of funds

Museveni at the 40km mark in Mubende (January 5)

President Yoweri Museveni yesterday started limping after walking over 40km from Kufu, Luweero to Masiriba, Mubende. "I think these boots are not good for walking. They are good on grass," Museveni told his aides before the end of the six-hour journey.

A new hero bicycle was on hand in case he needed it but Museveni did not use it. Yesterday's journey, part of the 200km- walk to commemorate the decisive attack on Kabamba military barracks by the NRA during the bush war, was through thick vegetation and hilly terrain.

aj manya ushega and aj om utime at the end of the 200km walk at irembo ibaale ile hotoMaj. Amanya Mushega and Maj. Tom Butime at the end of the 200km walk at Birembo, Kibaale. File Photo

 

Exhausted members of the entourage fought to keep pace with the untiring Museveni. New Vision photographer Cranimer Mugerwa lost a mobile phone in the thicket as he struggled to capture the event.

The entourage including, the Presidential Protection Unit, were soaked in sweat under the scorching sun. Lt. Gen. Museveni led a team of ministers, who included Maj. Amanya Mushega (public service), Major Tom Butime (internal affairs), Muruli Mukasa (security), Janat Mukwaya (gender), Syda Bbumba (economic monitoring), state ministers, Col. Kahinda Otafiire (local government), Steven Kavuma (defence), and Ruth Nankabirwa (Luweero).

Maj. Gen. Elly Tumwiine, Major Kakooza Mutale and the UPDF 1st Division Commander, Col Edison Muzoora also participated.

Mukwaya, Otafiire and Bbumba were exhausted towards the end of the journey and arrived at Masiriba Primary School, 10 minutes after Museveni. They were served lunch under a tree.

resident useveni on his 200km journey of uweero on foot at the ubendeiboga border ile hotoPresident Museveni on his 200km journey of Luweero on foot at the Mubende-Kiboga border. File Photo

 

Strong winds preceded a down-pour which interrupted the meal. Some of the items on the table were blown away, forcing Museveni to take refuge in a classroom nearby. Museveni, who throughout out the journey held a double-pronged spear, met and greeted villagers who turned up to welcome him.

He recognised many of them, calling them out by name. At Nakatokege, Kiboga, an elderly woman, Natalia Nabwami, was overwhelmed when Museveni stopped before her and inquired about her health.

He told his aides to give her sh200,000 which they mistakenly took to be sh20,000. "Nabagiri ngu mumuhe emitwaro abiri, emitwaro abiri" Museveni said in Runyankole insisting that she been given sh200,000 not 20,000. When the money was given to her, the villagers cheered in excitement. Another elderly man, Mzee Muyingo complained of lack of hospitals which he said has resulted in several deaths of children.

ew ision followed the trek through its entiretyNew Vision followed the trek through its entirety.

 

He also said, the area lacked schools. "Let us first deal with roads so that we can get to Bukomero. Then we shall deal with the others," Museveni replied.

At Masiriba, villagers stopped and one told him that his grandfather was very sick at home. "Mzee Rukoni ariyo? Museveni asked in Runyankole meaning, "is mzee Rukoni alright?"

After his lunch, he proceeded to Rukoni's home, about three kilometres away. During the journey, Museveni concentrated on inquiring about individual household incomes.

He visited coffee factories and projects supported by his office like the heifer project.

Museveni ends walk (January 11)

President Yoweri Museveni has hit back at critics of his 200km-walk through the Luweero triangle jungle, saying they lack what to do. "Those who think by walking I was mad should think twice. Maybe there are some styles in madness," Museveni said.

He was reacting to criticism that his trek was a gimmick to get a break from the mounting political pressure and war. Museveni was Sunday addressing a public rally at Birembo, Kibaale district at the end of his 200-km walk through Luweero, Mpigi, Mubende, Kiboga and Kibaale.

The emotional and historic trek was to commemorate the successful attack on Kabamba barracks January 1, 1985, by NRA fighters led by Major Gen. Salim Saleh. The attack on Kabamba climaxed with the battle of Birembo January 10, 1985, where the then guerrillas defeated government soldiers.

resident useveni and the irst ady anet useveni listen as ibaale  twoki asirivu speaks at irembo on an 10 1999 ile hotoPresident Museveni and the First Lady Janet Museveni listen as Kibaale MP Atwoki Kasirivu speaks at Birembo on Jan 10, 1999. File Photo

 

The journey to Kabamba started December 22, 1984, from Ggalamba forest, Mpigi, about 29km, north of Kampala and lasted a month. The first lady Mrs Janet Museveni, 15 ministers, Members of Parliament (MPs), religious leaders, LC officials and the RDC, Kibaale, Perez Katamba, attended. The Deputy Army Commander, Brig. Joram Mugume and the UPDF Chief of Staff, Brig. Steven Kashaka, of the officers who fought at Birembo, were present.

Museveni said his critics are suffering from a disease he called "Kampalaism". He said some political elite in Kampala "spend a lot of time doing nothing through newspapers".

"The Wafula's (the editor-in-chief of the Monitor) and the Pikes (for the New Vision) are saying why didn't I use a jet. They don't know by walking I have been able to see the problems of the people and come out with ideas to help them," Museveni said.

Museveni, who vowed to continue walking to other parts of the country, said, for example, the journey has helped him to establish that the area lacks toilets. "Turyabireeba omwitera mato (we shall know who is mad ). The one who walks or the one who does nothing at all," Museveni said in a mixture of English and Kinyankole.

useveni with a spear he was given to mark the end of the walk ile hotoMuseveni with a spear he was given to mark the end of the walk. File Photo

 

Museveni, who throughout the journey talked about poverty, education and the economy, blasted Kibaale, Kiboga, Kabarole and Hoima leaders for blackmailing him over the poor road network in the area.

"Arrangements are being made to tarmac Busunju-Kiboga-Hoima road. I understand there are some people who are moving around saying no roads, now the noise I hear should stop," Museveni said.

"I don't tell lies, ask Obote. I told him I will beat you and indeed I beat him. I have been hearing them but I kept quiet," he added. Museveni promised to personally take action against drivers deployed in districts who refuse to work because they are not paid allowances.

resident useveni bids farewell to residents of yamusisi village in ubende ile hotoPresident Museveni bids farewell to residents of Kyamusisi village in Mubende. File Photo

 

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