Besigye is a hero – Brig Tumukunde BY EDRIS KIGGUNDU Soldiers view: Brig Henry Tumukunde Brigadier Henry Tumukunde, a former head of Internal Security Organisation (ISO) and Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), over the weekend described FDC’s Dr Kizza Besigye as a hero given his contribution during the NRA liberation war. Tumukunde made the remarks at Besigye’s home in Kasangati on November 15, where he was a guest at the give-away (kuhingira) ceremony of Sandra Masiko and Brian Ntale. “Some people would not want to admit it but Besigye is a hero. It is because of Dr Besigye’s sacrifice to join the struggle that he nursed my leg. How would I be without a leg?” he asked. Tumukunde was shot in the leg during the bush war in the early 1980s. His remarks, according to various people who attended the function, caused excitement and attracted cheers. Besigye, according to our sources, just smiled. The brigadier, who was sentenced to “severe reprimand” by the UPDF general court martial in April 2013 after a seven-year trial for conduct prejudicial to discipline and order in the army, said Uganda’s problem is that some people were intent on “killing history.” “People want to look at things as if they didn’t happen and they cover up some facts under the carpet. What hurts me is putting history in the fridge. If we don’t talk about these things and ourselves, nobody will talk about them and us. A country without records cannot succeed,” Tumukunde said. Political talk Sandra Masiko, the bride, is an adopted daughter of Besigye and a close relative of Tumukunde’s. The latter, who was clad in a grey suit, said Masiko’s mother Mary Waijahe and her sister Joy Waijahe were very instrumental in the formation of Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM), a political party led by President Museveni in 1980, but their contribution had now been ignored. Earlier, before Tumukunde spoke, Col Nuwe Amanya Mushega, the FDC vice president for western Uganda, had said he would not want to talk politics at a family event. “It is important that we leave this as a social function because life is not all about politics,” Mushega reportedly said. But Tumukunde expressed a different view, arguing that politics is woven into the fabric of every event, be it social or economic. “I want to disagree with my senior Col Mushega who says we shouldn’t talk about politics at such functions. What is a country without politics?” he asked. Tumukunde said he was shocked that some relatives of his had feared to come to Kasangati because they belong to a different political inclination to Besigye’s. He said differing in political beliefs is natural but we “must learn to respect those who we disagree with.” Tumukunde was instrumental in President Museveni’s re-election in 2001 at the expense of Besigye. A bush war comrade of Besigye and Mushega, Tumukunde fell out with the establishment in 2005 when he opposed the amendment of the constitution to allow President Museveni a third term in office. He was stripped of his seat in parliament (army representative) and detained for at least one year on charges related to indiscipline. Mushega too fell out with the regime over the third term amendment, while Besigye had broken ranks earlier in 1999 after accusing the NRM of becoming dictatorial. In his brief remarks, Besigye did not dwell on the past but instead thanked Tumukunde for gracing the occasion. He caused laughter when he told the groom’s family not to fear to come to his Kasangati home despite taking a “blue girl.” The function was also graced by other opposition figures such as Wafula Oguttu, the leader of opposition, Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, FDC Women’s League chairperson Ingrid Turinawe and Jack Sabiiti, the MP for Rukiga county. [email protected]
Posted on: Wed, 19 Nov 2014 05:25:24 +0000
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