President Museveni has told the mourners that God used the fallen bush war hero Gen Elly Tumwine to fire the first shot, which was by mistake but changed everything in their favour.
Museveni revealed that Gen Kahinda Otafiire warned him against handing over all the guns they had accumulated 1979-1981 to the UNLA government, a decision he later came to regret when they needed to launch the Bush War Feb 6, 1981.
Speaking during the funeral service at Kololo independence grounds, Museveni reminisced the start of the 1986 NRA bush war in which Tumwine fired the first bullet that sparked off the five year war.
As far as the African tradition is concerned, he said that he believes that life continues after one has died.
“Your eternity is seen through the works, actions & most importantly through your children. Gen Elly Tumwine has not died, he is abundantly still here through his children,”he noted.
Museveni described Tumwine as a resilient man, considering what he went through, especially during the five year protracted war .
He cited the incident in Bukomera where Tumwine was shot in the eye, losing it in 1981 but later returned to continue with the bush war after recuperating.
“Gen Elly Tumwiine was a resilient man, he was injured badly during our liberation war, but he didn’t withdraw, he came back and continued fighting with us. That spirit of patriotism, and sacrifice, should inspire our young people everywhere,”he said.
“I express on behalf of the NRM, the UPDF and the country, condolences to the family of Gen Elly Tumwiine. Accept our heartfelt condolences,”he added.
He said that Tumwine dying at 68 was still young but had achieved a lot .
Tumwine died on Thursday last week at Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital where he had been hospitalised as he battled lung cancer.
Gen Tumwine’s body has been flown to his ancestral home in Mukuru, Rwemikoma sub county in Kazo district before a requiem mass and burial on Tuesday.