Lt Col Kyakabale gets hero’s welcome home

Lt Col Anthony Kyakabale (wearing spectacles) is welcomed by relatives and friends at his home in Rushebeya village, Rwamucucu in Kabale District on Thursday. PHOTO BY ROBERT MUHEREZA

What you need to know:

Jubilation. People feasted on several cows and goats that were slaughtered

KABALE.

Hundreds of relatives and villagers flocked to the home of former UPDF renegade officer, Lt Col Anthony Kyakabale, on Thursday to welcome him back from exile.
They feasted on cows and goats to celebrate his return.

Lt Col Kyakabale arrived at his home in Rushebeya village, Rwamucucu Sub-county in Kabale District, at around midday in a convoy of relatives, friends and fans.

He went straight to lay wreaths on the graves of his father Izidol Rwabambari and his mother Kamunyu Rwabambari who died in 2003 and 2006, respectively when he was still in exile in Sweden.

After visiting his parents’ tombs, Lt Col Kyakabale hosted his guests to lunch.
The occasion was graced by traditional songs and dances as the locals promised to vote President Museveni for allowing Lt Col Kyakabale to return home.

“I came here purposely to pay respect and lay wreaths on the tombs of my late relatives. I am extremely happy to see many people gathered here to welcome me. I am also happy that they slaughtered cows and goats to make the jubilation colourful. After this function, I will return to Kampala,” Lt Col Kyakabale told the crowd.

Lt Col Kyakabale left Uganda in 2001 amid impending arrest and returned from exile this month. He has held meetings with President Museveni at State House in Entebbe but details of their discussions have not been made public.

The return of Lt Col Kyakabale, who once declared war against the government while in exile, came two months after President Museveni told the UPDF high command meeting at State House, Entebbe, that he was free to return. Lt Col Kyakabale follows Gen David Sejusa who returned on December 14, last year from exile in UK.

Gen Sejusa spent two years in exile in London, the United Kingdom.

He fled the country after authoring a letter calling for investigations into reports that there was a plan to assassinate senior government and military officials perceived to be against an alleged scheme to have President Museveni’s son, Brig Muhoozi Kainerugaba, succeed his father as President.

Analysts say the return of high profile personalities is a sign of government extending an olive branch to its perceived enemies in a bid to bring about reconciliation.

Several army officers, such as Col Samson Mande, who fled Uganda in 2001 following accusations that he had started a rebellion against the government, are still in exile.