{UAH} WHAT WAS THE EXTENT OF MILITARISTIC OPPOSITION TO THE NRA DURING THE INTERIM PERIOD ? WHAT ROLE DID GWANGA PLAY IN THE PURGE OD BAGANDA NRA OFFICERS?
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WHAT WAS THE EXTENT OF MILITARISTIC OPPOSITION TO THE NRA DURING THE INTERIM PERIOD?
As the NRA struggled to assert itself as the legitimate government of Uganda, some 'negative forces' were determined to militarily dislodge it. Museveni became the President, Chairman of NRM/NRC, Chairman of the NRA High Command, Chairman of the Military Council and Minister of Defence. Dr. Ronal Bata became the Minister of State for Defence. He took residence at State House Entebbe and was guarded by a small force under Akanga Byaruhanga assisted by Aronda. Elly Tumwine was the Army Commander and Fred Rwigyema became the Deputy Army Commander with offices at the then Army Headquarters at Republic House. Saleh became the Chief of Combat Operations (CCO) and took office at the former Buganda Kingdom Treasurer's office that is now housing the Joint Clinic Research Centre. To many, the war had ended but Saleh and Rwigyema remained committed to their historical field operations by physically identifying with the troops and engaging in combat in northern Uganda. Kategaya took up the role of National political Commissar assisted by Jacob Asiimwe as the Administrative Secretary of the NRM Secretariate. All Special District Administrators fell under Kategayas docket. Jim Muhwezi took up the role of Civil Intelligence and was housed at the President's Office at the Parliamentary building. Amama Mbabazi took up the External Security docket and was housed at former Park Hotel.
All looked well and under control but the trouble was not only to come from Acholiland. In 1986, a group of leading Baganda politicians led by Andrew Kayiira planned a coup against the NRA. They intended to use Baganda NRA army officers more especially those who had been in the UFM. Unknown to the plotters, some of the NRA officers like Drago Nyanzi and Kasirye Gwanga that they had entrusted with the plot had been reporting to and updating the NRA top brass. The plotters were rounded up from Coline Hotel Mukono, charged with treason and remanded to Luzira Prison. What followed was a systematic purge of former UFM and FEDEMO officers and the general suspicion of Baganda officers within NRA. A number of them fled into exile where they continue to live todate. The suspects were acquitted of treason charges but shortly after the UFM leader Andrew Kayiira was shot dead in Kampala. The fact is that Kayiira and his UFM/FEDEMU was a challenge to the NRA right from the bush days. Had he not died, he posed a threat to Museveni's NRA south of the Karuma and Buganda in particular. His death helped the smooth intergration of his remaining former fighters into the NRA and neutralising DP's influence while rallying the Baganda behind NRM.
Later on a group of NRA Officers led by Capt Mugaarra from the Bombo based Artillery Regiment planned a coup. It was foiled and the plotters were rounded up and detained without trial in the remote Karamoja region.
After signing the peace accord with UPDA at Pece Stadium, those fighters who did not join the NRA were reorganised under the Holly Spirit Movement (HSM) of Alice Lakwena. The group though using primitive fighting methods inflicted a heavy blow to the NRA. In that way it managed to move from Acholiland, sweeping through the eastern region and was only defeated close to Jinja - east of Kampala. With Museveni's propaganda machine then, HSM was potrayed as a rouge group of armed bands possessed by evil spirit. 20 years have gone by, yet Ugandans are now yearning for a Lakwena like messiah to get rid of Museveni and his NRA. It is this HSM that turned into Joseph Kony's LRA.
Around 1989, dissatisfaction among senior NRA officers was becoming evident. A group of sidelined officers approached Saleh (then Army Commander) with appeals for him to prevail on Museveni to restore normality. Midway his tour of NRA units, Saleh was dismissed and with immediate effect retired from the NRA. Saleh had hardly held that position for a year. Museveni downplayed the dismissal by declaring that he had dropped Saleh because of his drunkardness. It was feared that upon completion of the tour, Saleh was to take over government. While still recovering from the Saleh saga, the Army and Ministry of Defence headquarters at Republic House was mysteriously burnt down. The then Director of Records, Ahmed Kashilingi fled arrest into exile in Congo. Col. Julius Chihandae the the Chief of Training and Recruitment (CTR) was placed under arrest and then dismissed from the NRA. A number of arrests of other officers like Matovu who had been the Chief of Personnel and adminirtration, Capt Ali Chama, Capt Abiriga, Lt Nalumoso and others followed thereafter. Later on, Lt Colnel Oliver Odweyo who had been the Commanding officer of the Military Police was arrerted over treasonous allegations and died in detention. He had already infiltrated the army radio communication network and broken into the classfied communication codes.
All the above happened before the expiry of Museveni's 4 years interim period -1986 - 1990.
All looked well and under control but the trouble was not only to come from Acholiland. In 1986, a group of leading Baganda politicians led by Andrew Kayiira planned a coup against the NRA. They intended to use Baganda NRA army officers more especially those who had been in the UFM. Unknown to the plotters, some of the NRA officers like Drago Nyanzi and Kasirye Gwanga that they had entrusted with the plot had been reporting to and updating the NRA top brass. The plotters were rounded up from Coline Hotel Mukono, charged with treason and remanded to Luzira Prison. What followed was a systematic purge of former UFM and FEDEMO officers and the general suspicion of Baganda officers within NRA. A number of them fled into exile where they continue to live todate. The suspects were acquitted of treason charges but shortly after the UFM leader Andrew Kayiira was shot dead in Kampala. The fact is that Kayiira and his UFM/FEDEMU was a challenge to the NRA right from the bush days. Had he not died, he posed a threat to Museveni's NRA south of the Karuma and Buganda in particular. His death helped the smooth intergration of his remaining former fighters into the NRA and neutralising DP's influence while rallying the Baganda behind NRM.
Later on a group of NRA Officers led by Capt Mugaarra from the Bombo based Artillery Regiment planned a coup. It was foiled and the plotters were rounded up and detained without trial in the remote Karamoja region.
After signing the peace accord with UPDA at Pece Stadium, those fighters who did not join the NRA were reorganised under the Holly Spirit Movement (HSM) of Alice Lakwena. The group though using primitive fighting methods inflicted a heavy blow to the NRA. In that way it managed to move from Acholiland, sweeping through the eastern region and was only defeated close to Jinja - east of Kampala. With Museveni's propaganda machine then, HSM was potrayed as a rouge group of armed bands possessed by evil spirit. 20 years have gone by, yet Ugandans are now yearning for a Lakwena like messiah to get rid of Museveni and his NRA. It is this HSM that turned into Joseph Kony's LRA.
Around 1989, dissatisfaction among senior NRA officers was becoming evident. A group of sidelined officers approached Saleh (then Army Commander) with appeals for him to prevail on Museveni to restore normality. Midway his tour of NRA units, Saleh was dismissed and with immediate effect retired from the NRA. Saleh had hardly held that position for a year. Museveni downplayed the dismissal by declaring that he had dropped Saleh because of his drunkardness. It was feared that upon completion of the tour, Saleh was to take over government. While still recovering from the Saleh saga, the Army and Ministry of Defence headquarters at Republic House was mysteriously burnt down. The then Director of Records, Ahmed Kashilingi fled arrest into exile in Congo. Col. Julius Chihandae the the Chief of Training and Recruitment (CTR) was placed under arrest and then dismissed from the NRA. A number of arrests of other officers like Matovu who had been the Chief of Personnel and adminirtration, Capt Ali Chama, Capt Abiriga, Lt Nalumoso and others followed thereafter. Later on, Lt Colnel Oliver Odweyo who had been the Commanding officer of the Military Police was arrerted over treasonous allegations and died in detention. He had already infiltrated the army radio communication network and broken into the classfied communication codes.
All the above happened before the expiry of Museveni's 4 years interim period -1986 - 1990.
Posted by Uganda - A Change of Guards!
Viele GruBe
Robukui
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