Overview:
However, Maj. Katamba urged patience, assuring veterans that the Tarehe Sita celebrations in Kigezi were not the last opportunity to recognize contributions to national security, peace, and stability. He promised to follow up and report back on what exactly happened.
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.
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 led by former President Dr. Apollo Milton Obote.
A total of 45 individuals, mostly from the active military, led by the First Son and Chief of the Armed Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, received medals in recognition of their contributions. Officials said the awards were exclusively given to those who participated in 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.
Caleb Turyamutunga, Chairperson of the Kigezi Veterans Association, said the submitted list of people from the region was ignored. “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.
Initially, the team prepared a list of 65 individuals from the six districts of Kigezi—Kisoro, Kanungu, Rukungiri, Rukiga, Rubanda, and Kabale. They were later instructed to reduce the list to four from each district due to the national scope of the event, bringing the total to 16. “It was extremely disappointing that even these 16 were not recognized,” Turyamutunga said.
He emphasized that the liberation struggle involved both armed fighters and unarmed civilians. Many contributed intelligence, food, medicines, vehicles, and accommodation, while others hid weapons such as guns. Turyamutunga highlighted individual and institutional contributions from Kigezi, noting those who lost property supporting FRONASA and NRA rebels but were never compensated. For instance, Warren Tumusiime, 75, from Kabasyaba village in Kabale District, coordinated the recruitment of over 100 men into the NRA between 1984 and 1986. In 1985, soldiers raided his home, destroying his property and seizing his green Peugeot 504 Pickup Truck.
Other contributions included vehicles from local institutions confiscated by NRA rebels with promises of post-war compensation. These included two buses owned by Mzee Muhaire (also known as Munubi) from Kinkiizi, vehicles from Bufundi Cooperative, Tata trucks from Kihanga High School, Nyakatare Technical School, Kinkiizi High School, and Kayonza Tea Growers.
Turyamutunga also recalled that equipment from Ndorwa Primary School, such as drums and trumpets, was used 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.
Former Kabale District NRM registrar Maurice Mugenga Kaitaba, who helped mobilize FRONASA and NRA veterans for the celebrations, expressed disappointment that many traveled from other districts only to return empty-handed.“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.
Kabale Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Godfrey Katamba confirmed that the Kigezi list was compiled and submitted to UPDF authorities, but could not explain what transpired. He noted that the number of medals awarded may have been fewer than those submitted nationally, which could explain why active military officers were prioritized.
However, Maj. Katamba urged patience, assuring veterans that the Tarehe Sita celebrations in Kigezi were not the last opportunity to recognize contributions to national security, peace, and stability. He promised to follow up and report back on what exactly happened.
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