By Andrew Irumba
If there is anyone who was hurt by the untimely departure of no-nonsense Maj.General Samuel Waswa Kasirye Ggwanga,then it’s former IGP Gen.Edward Kalekezi Kayihura.
Kayihura, who is still holed up in his upcountry farm in Lyantode looking after his banana plantations, spared a little time, sat down penned down a condolence message to the bereaved family of the now fallen General which left even battles hardened Generals of David Muhoozi (CDF), Kayumba Wamala (former CDF) among others who attended the burial reaching out to their closest handkerchiefs, as they imagined the pain Ggwanga’s death cause to the person of Kaihura.
Gen.Kaihura, analytically revealed that in one of his most difficult times of his life when he needed his comrades to stand by him when he was dropped as IGP via a WhatsAppp message, immediately arrested, incarcerated and later arraigned before the military court martial over treason charges, it’s only the fearless maverick Gen.Kasirye Ggwanga who stood with him, others feared on certainties of how the commander in-chief would perceive their support towards the troubled General, but Ggwanga stood by his side.
“Am deeply saddened (and I cannot help tears welling in my eyes) to learn of the passing on of Maj.Gen(Rtd) Kasirye Ggwanga on this Hero’s Day. Maj.Gen Kasirye Ggwanga was indeed an exceptional individual. My family and I can never forget, and we shall be eternally grateful and indebted to Maj.Gen Kasirye Ggwanga for standing up and standing out in my defence at a time when a vicious and sustained ‘war’ was unleashed on me. He was truly a man of honour and will remain in my thoughts forever as a true and loving comrade-in-arms. On behalf of my family and myself, this is to extend deep condolences to the family, relatives and friends of this great human being. He was a good man. A true General and patriot,” Kayihura’s message partly said.
Kaihura said since he met the late in the 80s he has been a true man of his words, he means what he says and he says what he means. He will never hide his intentions.
I first met Maj.Gen Kasirye Ggwanga in 1985 in Masaka at the tactical Headquarters of the then National Resistance Army (NRA) Mobile Brigade under the command of Gen. Salim Saleh. I was then, a personal assistant to Gen.Salim Saleh. He immediately impressed me by his self confidence, honesty, warmth and was so full of fun. He was what you would call a ‘Soldier’s soldier’,” Kayihura said.
Gen.David Muhoozi, who is army’s CDF describes the fallen bush-war hero as a soldier who was so fearless and unpretentious. “He was unofficious, unpretentious, fair to those he interacted with and above all a nationalist,” read part of Muhoozi’s eulogy.
The army contributed shs10m towards the burial arrangements. Others who contributed included Gen.Salim Saleh shs10m, state house shs10, Mubende District local Gov’t among others.
Ggwanga was laid to rest yesterday Friday in Nkene,Busujju, Mityana District by a handful of close relatives, high ranking army officers and a few politicians following MoH guidelines on social distancing to control spread of Codiv19 pandemic. Ggwanga was also a renowned environmentalist. RIP
