A national requiem mass for the late Gen. Elly Tumwine is currently underway at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala, ahead of his burial on Tuesday at Mukuru, Rwemikoma Sub County , Kazo district.
Gen Tumwine passed on Thursday last week in Nairobi and his body was returned to the Country on Friday evening.
The deceased succumbed to lung cancer at the Agha Khan Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.
The ceremony is open to members of the public and is attended by several government officials, the Military and the President Yoweri Museveni and his wife Janet Kataha Museveni as the chief mourner.
On Tuesday 30th, a funeral Service will then be held at the deceased country home in Mukuru and thereafter burial.
Gen. Tumwine has been described as a dedicated and hardworking war hero who left a mark in the history of Uganda. He was part of a 41 men who waged war against the Obote government in February 1981 and in January 1986, the rebel army under the leadership of current President Yoweri Museveni captured political power in Kampala.
He has been the longest serving Member of Parliament, after spending over three decades in the Parliament of Uganda. Tumwine served longest, representing the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) for 35 years until May 2021 when he was dropped from Cabinet as Security Minister.
He also served as Army Commander, Director General of the External Security Organisation (ESO), Chairman of the General Court Martial, Member of Parliament, Security Minister and presidential advisor.
He was a member of the National Resistance Council (NRC), the Constituent Assembly and all the parliaments from the sixth to the 10th.
He died at the age of 68.