President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has commended the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, and the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs for organising events to honour the late Gen Aronda Nyakairima.
President Museveni noted that the culture of memorial ceremonies is important as it fosters oneness.
Gen Aronda, who served as Chief of Defence Forces and Minister of Internal Affairs, was recognised by President Museveni for his notable contributions, including the establishment of Wazalendo Savings and Credit Cooperative Society and the creation of the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA).
The President noted that NIRA is crucial in correctly identifying Ugandans, especially during voting to avoid cheating. He noted that the main reason for the bush war struggle was due to the 1980-81 sham election at the hands of UPC on account of not having a system to ensure free and fair elections.
He also thanked Gen Aronda for his civil military endavours which he noted are critical for any military to succeed. He said the army is like fish and the population, the lake.
‘You cannot have fish without water’ he said, emphasizing the importance of the military relations with the wananchi.
Earlier on, the president had opened his remarks with a Runyankore saying ‘ogwiine kyenegyeza, tigutaara’ loosely translated “A fire that has a keeper will burn brightly forever.”
The president was referring to groups of military leaders that came before Aronda and those that came after him, alluding to the fact that the UPDF will continue to flourish.
The President was speaking during a church service on the final day of the three-day memorial events held from September 10 to 12.
Gen Aronda’s widow, Linda Aronda, expressed her gratitude to Gen Kainerugaba for chairing the memorial event committee and to the Ministry of Defence for honouring her late husband.
Bishop Patrick Tugume also praised Gen Kainerugaba for his leadership in organising the memorial, saying, “May God continue to use you and the UPDF to do great work for Uganda.”
On the first day of the memorial events, both President Museveni and Gen Kainerugaba reflected on Gen Aronda’s contributions to the professionalisation of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF). President Museveni described him as “outstanding in discipline, ideology, and management skills,” while Gen Kainerugaba noted that Gen Aronda’s story, along with those of other heroes, serves as a powerful example of courage and dedication.
In his lecture titled The Impact of a Multipolar World on Africa’s Security Posture, delivered on the second day of the events, Gen Kainerugaba emphasized the benefits of a multipolar world for Africa. He explained that Africa’s historical struggles, such as slavery and colonisation, occurred when global power was concentrated in the West. “A bipolar or multipolar world, where power is shared by Asian and Euro-Asian nations, is very good for Africa,” he remarked.
Gen Kainerugaba further elaborated that Africa’s decolonisation was greatly aided by the rise of the Soviet Union and China, stating, “Without the rise of the Soviet Union and China, Africa would have faced greater challenges in unshackling herself from colonial bondage.”
The CDF also praised the rise of BRICS, a coalition of non-Western economies, as a positive step towards a more balanced global power structure. “Both are very good things for Africa,” he noted, emphasizing the importance of solidarity within the global south for Africa’s political and economic empowerment.
The three-day events were attended by NRA historical figures, serving UPDF Generals and senior officials and their families among other eminent Ugandans as well as foreign dignitaries.