By Andrew Irumba
The Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) has announced that fallen Bush-war hero Maj.Gen.Samuel Waswa Kasirye Gwanga will be accorded a scientific burial, which will be attended by close family members, plus a few government officials and security officers.
This was revealed by the UPDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Richard Karemire, who on Thursday released a tentative programme that will be followed during Gen. Gwanga’s burial.
Karemire also said media and all general mourners will not be allowed at the venue. Only State owned media houses UBC and Vision Group have been accredited to cover the event live, the rest will follow from social media platforms provided by Army. “Others can pick the feed from UBC and from our live feeds,” Karemire’s statement read in part.
The programme reads in part thus;
A formal and official eulogy by the UPDF will be issued tomorrow during the burial ceremony where details will be given about his long service record.
We thank members of the public who have been conveying messages of condolences and support to the family and the UPDF fraternity.
Arrangements to give Gen. Kasirye Gwanga a befitting send-off are now in advanced stages.
Burial will take place on Friday June 12, 2020, 10:00Hrs at Nkene Village, Busunju County in Mityana District.
It will be a Scientific burial with a very limited number of participants comprising mostly of family members. This is in line with the Preventive Guidelines from government as we deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, which Gen Kasirye Gwanga fearless fought in Mityana during his last days. The UPDF will be there to enforce them supported by sister security agencies.
We do not expect any gatherings or crowds along the way. This would contravene the rules on social distance and congestion.
For our partners in the media, we know very well all of you have active covering the life of our departed General and more lots has been written after he breathed his last on Tuesday. He, many times, gave you interesting headlines and so you would wish to be part of those to send him off.
Regrettably, the current instructions cannot allow this. It would exponentially increase the numbers. You have, in the last three months been on the frontline sensitizing the population against COVID-19 and this is yet another occasion to show commitment to the messages we have been passing onto the population.
Therefore, to minimize on numbers, only UBC has been accredited to air live the burial ceremony and the rest can get the feed from it. The New Vision will represent the print media.
We have worked out how you can get footage for your stories. This is the extent you will be represented. The country continues to focus on saving the lives of Ugandans.
We have in addition set up a platform to livestream the burial ceremony in order to be able to follow the proceedings on Facebook and Youtube. This will especially enable the participation of family and friends abroad.
Finally, to the neighbours of Gen Kasirye in Busunjju and indeed all those in Mityana and Mubende Districts, we request you to bear with these arrangements where a great number of you will not be able to participate in the send-off of your dear brother, neighbor and leader.
We know you have always loved him and thank you for the support. The situation we are in demands this. At an opportune time you can go and pay your last respects to him.”
