By Daniel Bakalangudde.
The death of former Army Commander and Security Minister Gen Elly Tumwine last year, left only eight of the original 27 fighters who were armed during the launch of the National Resistance Army (NRA) bush war in 1981 still surviving.
Tumwine passed on in Aga Khan hospital in Nairobi from complications related to lung cancer, according to reports from the Uganda People Defence Forces (UPDF) high Command led by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Who are the eight survivors?
Of the eight survivors, two are Presidents; H.E Yoweri Museveni and H.E Paul Kagame of Rwanda. Others include:
Brig. Julius Chihandae
Kihandae has had a top career in the army. He has faced treason charges before and served as military attache in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and DR Congo. He is said to be semi-retired.
Brig. Fred Mwesigye
Mwesigye is the former MP for Nyabushozi. For long he was managing director at the UPDF’s National Enterprises Corporation in Luweero. He is now into private business.
Brig. Andrew Lutaaya
Lutaaya is the one who drove the truck on which the soldiers who launched the first attack of the war including Tumwine, rode. He is now a retired businessman and operates between Mubende and Kalangala.
Col Jack Mucunguzi
Mucunguzi worked for the defunct Coffee Marketing Board and later as a security officer at Uganda Revenue Authority. He is said to be into private business.
Col. George Mwesigwa
Until recently Mwesigwa served as second division garrison commander in Mbarara before he went into semi-retirement. He is among the senior army officers who were lined up for retirement last year.
Col. Charles Tusiime Rutarago
Rutarago was until recently the Commander Royal Guards—a force that ensures security of all cultural institutions in the country. He is also due to retire this year■
