By Spy Uganda
Retired Maj. Steven Rwakanuma, who was arrested a few days ago over allegations of illegal possession of firearms and allegedly aiding Tanzanians to cross into Uganda during the (Coronavirus) COVID-19 lockdown, has since been subjected to the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) Disciplinary Committee.
Rwakanuma, a former National Resistance Army (NRA) bush war hero, was arrested last Friday for allegedly possessing a fire arm that is not engraved, as per the standing regulations of the Uganda Police and Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). As if that wasn’t enough, he allegedly aided Tanzanians to enter Uganda despite the COVID-19 lockdown directives by his commander in-chief, president Yoweri Museveni.
Spy Uganda has learn that Maj. Rwakanuma was picked on Friday from his farm in Isingiro district by operatives from the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), and is currently being investigated over the above allegations, although he has since denied the same.
But while Maj. Rwakauuma languishes in the CMI cells, our Spies reveal that his arrest could be politically motivated, because there is virtually no case against him, since the alleged illegal firearm that was recovered from his home has since been tracked by the UPDF which established that it is registered in his names.
It should be noted that Maj. Rwakanuma is the father of Jeff Rwakanuma, a State House aide, who is contesting for Member of Parliament for Isingiro South in the coming 2021 general elections.
Who Is Maj. Rwakanuma
Born October 18, 1959, in Rubare Ntungamo District, Maj. Rwakanuma joined the Ugandan army in 1976 at the age of 17, in Mbarara District, at Kakyeka.
Trained in Libya, Israel and Mondoli, on his return, he was deployed at Entebbe Marines base. He is one of the survivors of the Israel attack at Entebbe airport in the 80s.
In 1980 he was arrested by former President Milto Obote for supporting UPM with the likes of Francis Mwebesa and Bitarakwate of Rukoni.
He was sent to Luzira prison where he met Col. Ahmed Kashilingi, with whom he later escaped from Luzira Maximum prison.
After escaping, they fled to Nairobi as refugees and later returned with some colleagues to joined NRA fighters in the Luwero jungles in 1983, where Col. Kashilingi became his commander.
After the war he was deployed in the NRA finance department with Lt. Col. Bright Rwamirama and Maj Guma Gumisiriza as a Pay Clerk, from where he was appointed as Pay Master of the 4th Division in Mbale, in 1991.
It was during that time that the helicopter he was traveling in to pay soldiers was shot down in an ambush reportedly organized by Karimojong cattle rustlers.
Rwakanuma was shot in the chest and hands during the scuffle as the attackers tried to grab soldiers’ salaries amounting to Shs900m, although the Karimojong didn’t succeed because he fought back and rescued the money, which he later handed over to those who went to rescue him.
His pilot and escorts didn’t survive the attack. After surviving the gunshot wounds he sustained, Maj. Rwakanuma was later transferred to Mubende barracks.
In 1994 he joined politics and contested for the Constituency Assembly (CA) but lost to Hon. Byarugaba Bakunda.
From 2000 to 2005 he served as Secretary for Defence Mbarara District, after which he served as Regional Commander of Operation Wembley.
During that time he managed to fight criminality in western Uganda, recovering over 4000 guns from criminals and because of that he was decorated with the Luwero and Nalubale medals.
He later served as NRM District councilor and NRM District chairperson and is currently the Coordinator Wealth Creation for Isingiro district.
He has been steadily executing his duties in that position until last Friday evening when he was arrested and subsequently charged for unlawful possession of firearms and Army assets (Uniform)
However, other sources reveal that although the fire arm that was found at his home is registered in his names and he has been with it since 1992, the reason why he was arrested is because it is not engraved, yet the directive for regulation and engraving of firearms was issued by President Yoweri Museveni in lieu of arms used by the Uganda Police, UPDF and other sister security agencies. watch the space…
