NRM BUSH WAR MEMORIES: Untold story of the Mukono bush war

The other forces were to continue on the main road to Kampala. At river Rufiji, they would meet the 13th battalion moving from Buloba headed by Brig. Ivan Koreta.

As my force reached Kisubi, we noticed a heavy movement of planes. We gathered that Moses Ali’s forces had just joined Okello Lutwa’s side and they were flying in from Arua. I then requested Mzee to shoot these planes. He refused despite my pleading.

As I was hitting the forces from Entebbe, I was distracted from the rear by Federal Democratic Movement (FEDEMU) forces, which had camped behind Kisubi. By the time Lutwa’s forces came from Entebbe, we were being hit from back and front. We were then pushed back to Kajjansi. I cried for reinforcements and Col. Patrick Lumumba’s third battalion came and we hit the enemy forcing them to surrender.

I continued to Entebbe to capture the barracks at Katabi, the airport and the whole town. Our colleagues continued and captured Kampala by January 25, 1986.

Inspiration

I think what kept some of us going strong for the five years in the bush was Mzee’s siasa (political education). He kept telling us how people like Mozambique’s Eduardo Mondlane and Samora Machel had succeeded. If others had succeeded, then we were also confident we would.

Although I personally have had many problems with the very colleagues I fought with leading to my imprisonment in Luzira for five years (1990-1995) without any case, I insist that our liberation struggle was every inch worth it because it has changed the outlook of Ugandans for good.

Our pride is that for the first time in the history of Africa, and actually of the world, a homegrown guerrilla force without any direct foreign support overthrew an established government in a record five years.

(Al Hajji Kirunda Kivejinja talks about the contribution of the external wing in our continuing series of Bush War Memories this Thursday)

Quick Notes

Date of Birth: January 1, 1949
Place of Birth: Kigiro, Kebisoni, Rubabo country in Rukungiri district
Father: Mr Yowana Kabandize
Mother: Mrs Kigyendera Saforoza (RIP)
Schools: Ndama Primary School, Nyakibale Junior School, Nyakazinga SS, Butobele College School and army colleges in Israel and Iraq.
Wife: Mrs Monica Kashillingi
Children: Many loving children including 6th born Hussein Kashillingi, President Museveni's legal aide.
Favourite dish: Chicken, Matooke and Chapati
Hobbies: Watching katemba (local drama)