The country was Tuesday morning hit by the saddening news of the passing of retired UPDF officer Maj. Gen. Kasirye Gwanga, a war veteran and decorated soldier.
Gen. Gwanga met his demise while under admission at Nakasero Hospital in Kampala. He has been ailing for over a month and was rumoured dead a week back.
Like the hero he was, Kasirye Gwanga died on June 9th which is celebrated internationally as Heroes Day.
In this Article, The Tower Post traces the roots of the no-nonsense Genera.
Biography.
Born Samuel Wasswa Kasirye Gwanga in 1952 in the central District of Mubende, Gwanga was a father, husband, farmer and a former hunter. He grew up in Mubende town which was during his childhood days was dominated by Indians.
As a farmer, Gen. Gwanga raised and sold puppies to earn money for his education and to support his family. Up until his death, he was a pronounced dog lover.
Education
Gen Gwanga started his early education from Katakala Primary School before joining Kibuli Secondary School for his O’ level.
He completed O’ level in 1972, barely a year after dictator Iddi Amin Dada captured government in a military coup. He would later enroll in the then Uganda Army commanded by Gen. Amin as the Commander in Chief.
Military Career
After completion of his military training, Gen. Gwanga was posted in Arua, West Nile to serve as a map reader. He served in that position for 5 years up to 1977.
He was later promoted to the position of artillery officer in 1978 and in the following year, he was promoted to the rank of staff sergeant still under the Uganda Army.
When the joint Chama Cha Mapinduzi forces led in by the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF) invaded Uganda in 1978, in April they captured Kampala and deposed Idi Amin, Gen. Gwanga was arrested and detained in Tanga region in Tanzania.
He was held as a prisoner of war for two years.
Return to Uganda
In 1980, then President Godfrey Binaisa negotiated the release of Ugandan POWs from Tanga and Gen. Gwanga was one of those who were released.
Upon arrival, the POWs were housed at Maluku Prison in Mbale District before being moved to Kirinya Prison in Jinja District on October 7th 1981. Gwanga was among the first batch of the prisoners that were released.
Three months after his realease, President Apollo Milton Obote put Gen. Gwanga on the Most Wanted list following an attack on Military barracks in Lubiri Mengo.
The attack was orchestrated by the Uganda Freedom Army which was led by Andrew Kayiira but the government blamed it on the released prisoners.
The government would later arrest Gen. Gwanga’s elder brother, Lieutenant James Kasirye, who was a military pilot based at Nakasongola Military Air Base. James was tortured, then killed as he was being interrogated on the whereabouts of his young brother.
Joining Rebels
After the murder of his elder brother, Gen. Gwanga sought revenge and joined the UFA to retaliate against the Obote led government. This group operated in the Mawokota and Mubende areas in Buganda.
In 1985, he left UFA and joined Yoweri Museveni’s National Resistance Army, which captured power in January 1986.
During the drive to capture Kampala, Kasirye Ggwanga is said to have commanded a 120mm artillery unit.
Between 1986 and 2005, he served in several roles including as the LC5 chairman for Mubende District and as the director of stores in the UPDF.
Gwanga firest retired from the army in January 2005 at the rank of Brigadier but asked to be reinstated after a period of three months.
His contract was renewed.
He retired in 2018 after being promoted to the rank of Major General, the third topmost rank in the UPDF.
Life After Retirement
After his retirement, Gen. Gwanga remained vocal in issues that affect the world at large, including advocacy and business.
He breathed his last on Tuesday June 9th at Nakasero Hospital.
