One of the heroes of the 1986 Luweero bush war that brought the current NRM government to power, Gen Elly Tumwine has died at the age of 68.
Tumwine died from Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, where he was airlifted recently as he battled cancer -related complications.
Tumwine is one of the 42 people armed with 27 guns who attacked Kabamba barracks to launch the NRA protracted war that five years later in 1986 would usher the current government to power.
Having left his teaching career in 1978, Tumwine joined the FRONASA forces led by Museveni.
In 1981, when then rebel leader Yoweri Museveni went to the bush to form the National Resistance Army (NRA) after disputing the outcome of the 1980 elections, Tumwine went with him.
Tumwine is credited for having fired the first bullet that lunched the five year war of the National Resistance Army.
By January 1986, he was one of the six original members of the NRA High Command which later metamorphosed into the current UPDF High Command.
During his career, Gen Tumwine also served as Minister of State for Defense in 1989, Director General of the External Security Organization (ESO) from 1994 until 1996, presidential adviser on security from 1996 until 1998, chairman of the High Command Appeals Committee from 1986 until 1999.
Tumwine has also previously represented the UPDF in the Parliament. May his soul rest in peace. END.