RUKIGA, UGANDA -The Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) paid respects to the fallen Rtd Col. Anthony Kyakabale, a former rebel commander turned senior army officer, who was lauded for his diligent and selfless service to the country.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Col. Kyakabale, a veteran of Uganda’s liberation struggle and a once close ally of President Yoweri Museveni, passed away on October 5th, 2025, in Sweden, where he had been residing for years.
The final send-off ceremony, held at the Rushebeya playground in Rwamucucu sub-county, Rukiga district, drew thousands of mourners from across the country.
The requiem mass for the late Colonel, who died after a long illness lasting one year and nine months, was presided over by Rev. Fr. Marius Byamukama, the Kitanga parish priest.
In a moving tribute, the army remembered the late Kyakabale as a selfless military officer who defended the country during the 1980s guerrilla war that brought the current government to power.
The army’s message was read by Maj. Gen. Ambrose Musinguzi, the Joint Chief of Staff – Health Services, who was accompanied by the UPDF Chief Political Commissar, Maj. Gen. Henry Matsiko, and Brig Gen Henry Masiko.Col. Kyakabale, a key figure in the regional conflicts of the era, was also well-known for his involvement in the Rwandan Civil War.
The conflict culminated in 1994 with the toppling of the government of President Juvenal Habyarimana, whose assassination triggered the Rwandan genocide.
The burial ceremony attracted a host of notable dignitaries, including senior serving and retired Army officers led by Maj Gen Timothy Mutebile, reflecting Kyakabale’s standing within military and political circles.
Among the thousands of mourners were prominent political figures, including the Rukiga District Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Dr. Sylvia Alinaitwe; Rukiga County MP Aspirant, Hon. Rtd Captain Kivumba Damson; and the sitting Rukiga County MP, Hon. Rowland Bish Ndyomugyenyi.
The burial of Col. Anthony Kyakabale closes a significant chapter in Uganda’s military history, marking the passing of a liberation fighter whose legacy is deeply intertwined with the nation’s and the region’s turbulent past.
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