Retired Army General Kale Kayihura is not new to most Ugandans. The 67-year-old retired army man had for years been in Museveni’s closed circle, which perhaps helped him rise to the top of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and later given other assignments such as managing the day-to-day affairs of the Uganda Police.
During an event organised at State House Entebbe and officiated by President Museveni on Friday, September 1, 2023, where 11 army officers, including Kayihura, were officially sent off into retirement, the once troubled former police chief lauded President Museveni for inspiring him and his other colleagues when he captured power.
Kayihura, who was visibly elated during the event, said that the memories of his first meeting with the former guerilla are still fresh in his mind.
“We pay tribute to you, sir, because for many of us, still in our youthful days, your inspiration was life-changing. I cannot forget an event in 1979, after you, “the Bakombozi,” as we called you, the liberators from Tanzania, captured Kampala and visited Makerere University and addressed us students, staff, and others in the main hall,” he said.
Kayihura added: “The image has never left my mind: Of you in a camouflage uniform, walking towards the stage, flanked by your escorts, while what we later learned was the FRONASA choir, entertained us at the stage as we waited for your arrival, singing exciting songs that we later learned were revolutionary songs.”
“I remember Amama Mbabazi, wearing a creamy Kaunda suit (it’s like a film in my mind), walking behind you. You then went on to give us a fascinating lecture on the political history not only of Uganda but of the entire East African region too. It was all new, refreshing, exciting, and uplifting to us. So, for us students, seeing you speak to us was unbelievable. We could not imagine an intellectual in a uniform given the negativity that came with army men then.”
Six years ago (August 2018), Kayihura was fired from the police and was arraigned before the Army General Court Martial on charges of failing to protect war materials, aiding and abetting the kidnapping of Rwandese refugees, allowing the use of arms by unauthorised people, and failing to account for the arms given to the violent crime preventers.
The charges against him were dropped this year after his name appeared on the list of UPDF officers who were to retire in 2023.
Source: Pulse Uganda