Thursday, June 9 marked two years since the passing of the maverick general Gen Kasirye Ggwanga.
A veteran of two national armies (UA & UPDF) & 2 rebellions (UFM & NRA), Gen. Ggwanga was a 26 year old field artillery officer when President Idi Amin declared war on Tanzania in 1978.
When the war concluded in 1979, an estimated 3000 former Uganda Army soldiers were taken as Prisoners of War to Tanzania.
Then Staff Sergent Kasirye Ggwanga was one of them.
After 897 days in detention, he was released together with others after President Godfrey Binaisa negotiated their return home in 1980.
But just like Binaisa’s reign, his freedom was shortlived after Uganda Freedom Movement rebels attacked Lubiri barracks in Kampala.
The UNLA Government immediately suspected the newly released ex-soldiers were behind the attack.
Kasirye Ggwanga was once again a wanted man.
His brother, Lt. James Kasirye was killed after refusing to reveal his whereabouts.
Left with no option, he joined the UFM rebels operating in the Mityana-Mubende area.
In 1985, he joined the NRA playing a key role in the Battle of Kampala as Commander of the NRA artillery unit.
After 1986, he served in different capacities in both the Army; where he rose to the rank of a two-star General and Local Government; where he served as the District LC V Chairman for Mubende where was fondly known as the 𝙂𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙤𝙧
Rest in Peace Governor.
