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President Museveni mourns his former Minister of Security


President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has announced the death of his former Minister of Security General Elly Tumwiine.

In his announcement on Thursday, President Museveni said the 68-year-old former minister died while undergoing treatment for lung cancer in a Nairobi hospital.

The late minister has been eulogized by the president as a man who was dedicated to serving his country.

“He has been a dedicated and hard-working cadre. More will be said about him later. Condolences to his family, to the NRA-UPDF- NRM fraternity and to all Ugandans,” President Museveni said.

President Museveni added that Tumwiine has been part of the leadership of the NRA- UPDF as well as serving the government in various capacities.

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“Those capacities included being Army Commander, member of the High Command, Director-General of Intelligence, Minister of Security,” President Museveni said.

The late minister served in the cabinet from March 2018 until 2021. He then retired from active military service in July 2022. General Tumwiine was one of the highest-ranking members of the Ugandan military who recently called on police to shoot at protesters.

Following the 2021 general election that was protested by the opposition, General Tumwiine is on record giving orders to the military to kidnap, illegally incarcerate and send opposition members to be tried in military courts.

His orders saw the opposition supporters suing for Human Rights violations. The move by the supporters of Bobi Wine who ran against President Museveni saw the US government sanction Ugandan generals over human rights abuses.

The body of the deceased has since been airlifted to Uganda ahead of the burial ceremony.