KABALE, UGANDA – Collaborators of the National Resistance Army (NRA) and the Front for National Salvation (FRONASA) from the Kigezi Sub-region have expressed outrage after being excluded from the medals awarded during the 45th Tarehe Sita Celebrations in Kabale District.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The event, held on February 6, 2026, commemorated 45 years since 1981, when NRA rebels under the command of Gen. Rtd. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, now President of Uganda, launched the guerrilla war against the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) government under former President Dr. Apollo Milton Obote.
A total of 45 individuals, mostly from the active military fraternity, led by the First Son and Chief of the Armed Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, received medals in recognition of their contributions to the liberation struggle. According to officials, the awards were exclusively given to those who participated or contributed to the liberation campaigns by FRONASA during the 1970-1979 war against Idi Amin Dada, and the NRA bush war of 1981-1986 against the UPC government.
However, Caleb Turyamutunga, Chairperson of the Kigezi Veterans Association, expressed disappointment that the submitted list of 16 people from the region was not considered when others were decorated by President Museveni who officiated as Chief Guest at the 45th Tarehe Sita Celebrations in Kabale.
Turyamutunga explained that he was personally tasked by senior UPDF officials to lead a team that identified deserving individuals, but none received medals. “I was tasked to collaborate with a few others, and we compiled a comprehensive list that was approved by the Office of the Resident District Commissioner before submission. Yet, none of them was considered,” he said.
He revealed that initially, they prepared a list of 65 individuals from the six districts of Kigezi, namely; Kisoro, Kanungu, Rukungiri, Rukiga, Rubanda, and Kabale. However, they were instructed to select only four from each district because, as the event was national in scope, also participants from other parts of the country had to be considered. “Because of that, we had to reduce the list from 65 to only 16 after another lengthy process. It was extremely disappointing that even these 16 were not recognized,” he added.
Turyamutunga said he felt heartbroken at seeing the medals awarded largely to active military personnel and a few retired army officers. “The liberation struggle was a collective effort involving both armed fighters and unarmed civilians,” he emphasized. “Many contributed intelligence, food, medicines, vehicles, and accommodation. Others hid weapons such as guns.”
He also highlighted the contributions and sacrifices of various institutions and individuals from Kigezi who lost property supporting FRONASA and NRA rebels but have never been compensated. One example is Warren Tumusiime, 75, from Kabasyaba village in Kahondo Parish, Maziba Sub-county, and Kabale District. Tumusiime is said to have coordinated the recruitment of over 100 men into the NRA between 1984 and 1986. In 1985, he narrowly escaped capture when government soldiers raided his home, destroyed his property, including a banana plantation, and seized his green Peugeot 504 Pickup Truck.
Turyamutunga further noted that vehicles belonging to local institutions were confiscated by NRA rebels, with promises of compensation after the war. These included two buses owned by Mzee Muhaire, also known as Munubi, from Kinkiizi in Kanungu District; a vehicle belonging to Bufundi Cooperative; Tata trucks from Kihanga High School, Nyakatare Technical School, Kinkiizi High School, and Kayonza Tea Growers.
He also recalled that NRA rebels took equipment from Ndorwa Primary School, such as drums and trumpets, to train the pioneer members of the NRA Brass Band. “I was among the first to train the army brass band, and we used the equipment taken from Ndorwa Primary School in Kabale, which has never been returned” he said.
CUE IN …TURYAMUTUNGA ON MEDALS
Former Kabale District NRM registrar Maurice Mugenga Kaitaba, who participated in mobilizing FRONASA and NRA veterans for the 45th Tarehe Sita Celebrations, expressed his disappointment that many from the region traveled from other districts and returned home on an empty stomach, without recognition or medals. “I personally helped distribute invitation cards because we were assured they would receive their medals. But after enduring hunger and harsh weather, they went home empty-handed,” Kaitaba said.
CUE IN …KAITABA ON COMPLAINTS
In response, Kabale Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Godfrey Katamba confirmed that the list was compiled and submitted to UPDF authorities, but he could not explain what transpired. He observed that the number of medals awarded might have been fewer than those submitted from across the country, leading to active military officers being prioritized. However, Maj. Katamba urged patience among the people of Kigezi, assuring them that the Tarehe Sita celebrations in Kigezi were not the last opportunity to recognize their contributions to national security, peace, and stability.
Katamba also promised to follow up the matter and report back on what exactly happened
CUE IN… RDC KATAMBA ON PATIENCE
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