Fresh Details on Gen. Kasirye Gwanga’s Death Emerge

On June 9, Ugandans woke up to the sad news that Maj Gen (Rtd) Kasirye Gwanga had breathed his last aged 68.

According to family and military sources, Gwanga died at Nakasero hospital where he was admitted on May 18.

A reliable source and close family member informed this website that during the bush war struggle in which was involved, Kasirye Gwanga a then young soldier had suffered injuries that he later struggled with in his adult life.

In this particular case, the now-deceased General had a bullet stuck in his arm. The bullet needed to be removed through a very technical operation that would have either left him disabled or worst-case scenario, required his arm to be amputated, and left him with one arm.

‘’He would rather die than live with one arm!” the source stated. Due to his stubborn and resilient nature, the bullet was never removed. However over the years, because the bullet was never removed, the fragments of the bullet slowly started to move in the General’s bloodstream.

Case in point, four years ago around 2017, he suffered a lung-related complication for which he sought treatment abroad. The bullet fragments had moved to the lungs and he was immediately rushed abroad where an operation was performed to remove the fragments, and he made a full recovery.

A few years earlier before that incident, the fragments had moved to the heart, and once again an operation was performed and the fragments were removed to which he made a full recovery.

The source that was with the general about a month ago on one of his farms said Gen Ggwanga was in a very jolly mood and was making plans for the future, and planning for the coming planting season.

However, he kept talking awkwardly, “In case I am still alive next year, there is a lot we shall accomplish, it is like he knew!” the family member stated.

Indeed four days later after their meeting, a phone call came in informing the member that the general had collapsed and had been rushed to Mbuya military hospital for treatment. The bullet fragments had apparently moved to the brain.

Gwanga underwent a successful operation after doctors discovered a blood clot in one of the vessels in his head. Other family members further stated that after the operation, the General seemed to be on his way to a quick recovery once again. And two days after the operation he was in a proper mental state and had conversations with several people. The family members were hopeful, that because of his resilient nature, he would once again make a full recovery.

The army leadership later confirmed that the general was under military care “Maj Gen (Rtd) Kasirye Gwanga has been hospitalized at Mbuya, the army leadership has said, dispelling earlier reports that the controversial General was under military detention.”

Brig. Richard Karemire, UPDF spokesperson said Gen Gwanga had been admitted to the Uganda People Defence Force Senior Officers Diagnostic Centre at army headquarters in Mbuya, Kampala.

He noted that doctors are taking care of him and there is no reason to speculate on his current whereabouts.

However, some days after the operation, the general’s health quickly deteriorated and he was transferred to Nakasero Intensive Care Unit where he was for about two weeks, till his demise on heroes day. The general had fought his last battle!

He was born in Mubende district in 1952. His father was a peasant farmer and hunter. Kasirye attended Katakala primary school and Kibuli secondary school for his primary and O-Level education respectively.

He joined the Uganda Army in 1972 and was posted to Arua in West Nile as a map reader following his initial training.  He was captured in 1978 and taken as the prison of war when Tanzania People’s Defense Forces attacked Uganda.

He was released in 1980 when the late president, Godfrey Binaisa negotiated for the release of political prisoners. Kasirye joined the Uganda Freedom Army under the late Andrew Kayira to avenge the death of his brother, Lt. James Kasirye, a military pilot who was tortured to death by then government soldiers.

In 1985, Kasirye left Uganda Freedom Army and joined the National Resistance Army, which ushered President Yoweri Museveni into power. He served in different roles between 1986 and 2005 including as Mubende district LC 5 chairperson.

He retired from the army in January 2005 at the rank of brigadier but asked to be reinstated three months after. He was promoted to Major General in 2018 before he went on to retire for the second time.

Several people have come out to eulogize the late general with president Museveni tweeting “To my comrades in the struggle, both living and departed (including Maj. Gen Kasirye Gwanga who passed on this morning and Najwa Abbas who passed on recently in Sudan), the struggle continues and victory is certain.”

Gen. Kasirye Gwanga will be laid to rest on June 12, 2020, in Busujju village located in Mityana district.