Former Security Minister Gen Elly Tumwine has been flown to Nairobi Hospital for further medical attention, The Capital Times has learnt.

Security sources have intimated to us that the bush-war hero has been unwell until last week when he was admitted at Nakasero hospital for treatment although they didn’t confide to the press the illness eating him up.

Contacted for a comment on the General’s health last week, the UPDF Spokesperson Brig Gen Felix Kulayigye said that he doesn’t discuss health issues of individual army officers in the media.

“I don’t discuss one’s individual health conditions [in the media]” he told the press.

Gen Tumwine was until last year in June the Security Minister who oversaw the election security before he was dropped and President Museveni appointed Maj Gen Jim Katugugu Muhwezi as his predecessor.

Gen Elly Tumwine joined the army in 1979 after undergoing a cadet course at Tanzania Military Academy, Munduli. He trained with officers like Gen Katumba Wamala, the late Lt Gen Pecos Kutesa, Gen Joram Mugume, the late Napoleon Rutambika and Maj Gen Steven Kashaka.

After his training, he joined President Yoweri Museveni to launch the National Resistance Army armed struggle against the government of President Milton Obote in 1981.

He has been credited for firing the first bullet during the attack on Kabamba barracks on February 6, 1981, which launched the armed struggle that brought President Museveni to power in 1986.

When NRA captured power in the same year, he became the first NRA Army commander and had been in parliament representing the army since then until last year, making him the longest uninterrupted serving Member of Parliament.