The death of Brigadier General Stephen Kiggundu due to electrocution in his bathroom at his residence in Entebbe, Wakiso district, on March 31, 2024, brings the number of Ugandan army generals that have died over the last eight years to at least 13, creating a loophole in the military strategy of the country’s defence forces and bringing to the fore the huge financial implication when the army loses such key personnel.
There are many more army officers who have died over the last 15 years, some of whom – battle-hardened and with bullet scars to show – have met their deaths under flimsy circumstances, raising questions about the safety of such valuable assets.
The death of Kiggundu, the deputy Airforce commander, resurrects memories of the loss of individuals such as Major General James Kazini, General Aronda Nyakirima, Lt General Paul Lokech, Brigadier Noble Mayombo, among others, whose deaths left more questions than answers.
This not only represents a personal tragedy for their families and loved ones but also deals a severe blow to Uganda’s military prowess and strategic capabilities. Similarly, the former Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) Lt General Paul Lokech’s fatal accident while fixing a light bulb at home, which later led to a blood clot, and Brigadier General Kiggundu’s suspected electrocution raise serious questions about the safety and security protocols in place for these high-ranking officers, even within the confines of their own residences.
For example, Brigadier General Victor Twesigye died at his home in Nyarushanje, Rukungiri district on July 2, 2020 after he slid in his bathroom at his home. Major General James Kazini, the former army commander, for instance, met his demise at the hands of his girlfriend, Lydia Draru, in a domestic altercation at Draru’s home, while General Aronda Nyakirima was found dead aboard an Emirates commercial flight.
Other army generals who have died over the last eight years include Gen Elly Tumwiine, Major General Levi, Karuhanga, Maj Gen Kasirye Ggwanga, Lt General Pecos Kutesa, Maj General Eric Mukasa, Maj Gen Benon Biraaro, and Maj General Stephen Rwabantu.
The responsibility for ensuring the safety and well-being of these military leaders lies not only with their immediate families but also with the Ugandan government and military establishment, some experts say. As custodians of national security and guardians of the country’s defense capabilities, some would argue that it is imperative that adequate measures are taken to protect these valuable assets both on and off the battlefield.
The army spokesman of the. Uganda People’s Defence Force, Felix Kulaigye, said that Kiggundu, the first pilot of Uganda’s Russian-made fleet of the Su-30MK2 fighter jets, will be missed dearly.
“For us, he has been near and dear to us. We are going to miss him certainly,” he said.
There are just not many people like Kiggundu within the UPDF. Trained at the United States Command Staff College, China’s Military School, and in the Czech Republic, Kiggundu, at just 46 years old, had a wealth of experience under his belt. Not only had he been deployed to hunt down insurgents of the Lord’s Resistance Army in the jungles of Garamba, he was also part of the military campaign assigned to wipe out the Allied Democratic Forces rebels in western Uganda.
Brigadier Noble Mayombo, for instance, was not only a high-ranking officer but also a respected lawyer and influential figure in Ugandan politics, the impact of his demise extending beyond the military realm. His untimely death robbed the country of a potential future leader and deprived the nation of his visionary leadership.
Then there was Lokech, nicknamed the Lion of Mogadishu due to his brazen pursuit of the Al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab group, whose death left the country in shock. Trained in Russia, he was seen as one of Uganda’s bravest military strategists.
The loss of such resourceful soldiers at a time when Uganda is striving to professionalize its armed forces carries significant costs. Wilson Mbadi, the former chief of defence forces, once gave a picture of how much it costs to train an army officer. While commissioning the national defence college in Buikwe in 2022, he said that Uganda spends $69,000 per person per year to train in Kenya.
In Tanzania, the government has been paying $55,000 per person per year. In the next financial year, which starts in July 2024, the ministry of Defence, plans to spend Shs 3.8bn in military training, a drop from the Shs 4 billion in the 2023/2024 budget. However, the budget is expected to go up to Shs 5.2 billion by the financial year 2026/2027, according to ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
While most of this money is spent on training selected army staff within Uganda, a smaller group is sent abroad due to the financial cost of it. For example, in 2023, out of 25,211 personnel that underwent training, 130 were trained abroad and 25,081 were trained in the country, according to the ministry of Finance.
The training courses included: basic Art Field course, Cadet course, Platoon Commanders’ course, Passed Staff course, Senior Command Staff course, Junior Command course, Marine Capt Career course, Technical Intelligence course, Non-Commissioned Officers’ course, Armour Crew course, VVIP, Counter-terrorism, basic course for LDPs among others.
A total of Shs. 2.9 billion was spent on training aids, instructor and trainee’s allowances, the ministry noted. That means that losing an army general comes with huge financial implications. Odrek Rwabogo, the son of in law to President Museveni, while paying tribute to Lt. General Pecos Kutesa, and referring to his military training, said: “It is not really how strong you are; it is not the weapons you carry. It is how smart you are; how strategic you are in terms of the objective.”
President Museveni, also reflecting on Kutesa’s life, said: “Dying at 65, was too early for such a useful person.”
Dying young while being a useful person should create room for an honest conversation about the loss of these highly skilled and young officers and the need for greater vigilance and protection of Uganda’s most precious assets.
Ultimately, the loss of these highly skilled and young officers underscores the need for greater vigilance and protection of Uganda’s most precious assets.
Failure to address these concerns not only jeopardizes the safety and security of individual officers but also undermines the country’s long-term military readiness and strategic capabilities. Uganda cannot afford to lose any more of its finest soldiers to preventable tragedies.
-Observer-
Comments are closed.