Why Gen. M7 Is Posting Kimaka Officers To Civil Service

By Henry Mulindwa

The current appointments by commander in chief Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni in which he favors military officers against civilians has a secret embedded.

This online site has established that almost all those being posted to head key offices have gone through the Senior Command and Staff College-Kimaka training an indication that Museveni has a special attribute to the officers he trained himself in his military institution.

To begin with, Museveni has appointed Brig. David Kasura as the permanent secretary in the lucrative ministry for agriculture, animal industry and fisheries. Here, Kasura teams up with Maj. Bright Rwamirama Kanyontore who is the state minister for animal husbandry. Kasura has been head of National Leadership Institute-Kyankwanzi where all Museveni’s political machinations are hatched and later cemented; the latest having been that of tooling MPs on election of speaker of Parliament.

In the recent army reshuffle, Kasura was seconded to the civil service alongside Lt. Gen. Musanyufu who has now been posted as PS internal affairs. He finds there Generals Kahinda Otafiire and David Muhoozi as sector ministers. The appointment of Kasura comes after Museveni did the same when he posted his colleagues to head police. These include Brigadiers Bakasumba, Ggolooba and Ddamulira. All these according to sources are products of Kimaka besides Maj. Gen. Kashaija who is the commandant of Mubende military academy. Other officers from Kimaka whom Museveni has posted elsewhere include Col. Shaban Bantariza (RIP) who until his death was the deputy head of government media center, Col. Stephen Basaliza (served for one term as a commissioner Uganda Human Rights Commission) and now tipped for a top appointment among others. Military analysts suggest that Museveni trust a lot the army than civilians because the army takes time to nurture it’s officers and are more patriotic to the nation than anyone else.

“In other countries like Kenya and Tanzania, the retired officers are posted to head agencies, commissions because they are tested. The course content the officers undertake at Kimaka is good. An officer is taught command and control besides other relevant components of leadership and accountability. That’s why OWC is doing well and corrupt free compared to the former Naads” a senior officer knowledgeable about Kimaka affairs revealed.

In fact, we are told Museveni is paying attention to the first and second intake of Kimaka because most of these officers are now above the rank of Colonels. This is why many of them have either retired, died or are being posted to head civil service jobs. Those in the first intake found Gen. Ivan Koreta as the commandant of Kimaka. These included mostly NRA former rebels who by now had become top officers in the army and that unlike the subsequent trainings, this one had no foreign military students.

The first intake had the following officers: Salim Saleh (head OWC), Elly Tumwine (immediate former security minister), David Tinyefuza (katebe), Peter Kerim (RIP), Wasswa Balikalege (OWC), Taban Kyabahenda (RIP), Sula Semakula aka suicide (died), Elly Kayanja (OWC), Katagara (indisposed), Sam Tolit (foreign service), Nobel Mayombo (RIP), Mbuga Kkojja (retired), Edward Musajjawaza (retired), JB MULINDWA, Nyakaitana Sam, James Arocha, Oluka Sam, Loroti, Emmanuel MULINDWA (RIP), Muma, Okiding (deputy CDF), Stephen Kwiringira (ED-NIRA) and David Kasura newly appointed PS for ministry for agriculture animal industry and fisheries.

In total, the first intake had 31 students.

“In the first course, there were not foreigners. Unlike the likes of a few like Katumba Wamala who were professional soldiers having gone through the normal procedure of becoming a soldier, majority others were merely freedom fighters. They came from civilian life with no formal training. Therefore, the first intake was basically to bring freedom fighters into the normal life of soldiering. But as you can see, majority of these have since retired, some died and most of the surviving group is running OWC. Saleh and Balikalege started OWC and most of the first intake is there (OWC)” the sources explained. As for the second intake, Kimaka was now under the command of Maj. Gen. Benon Biraaro (RIP). This is the officer who in 2016 stood against president Museveni after he retired from the army. The second intake had officers like Patrick Kankiriho (RIP), James Kateregga (RIP), LADO James, Sam Kiwanuka, Timothy Sabiiti, Amanya, Byakagaba (RIP), Dr. Musinguzi (CMS), Kibirango (retired), Kaganda (retired), Kanyesige (military attache, Oula Innocent (deputy MD-NEC), Shaban Bantariza RIP, Gava, Stephen Basaliza (retired), Chemo, Kazawura  (air force) Labi Okello and Jeff Mukasa (CMI). We have learnt that besides Kimaka boys starting OWC, the same group laid the foundation for which Uganda’s tax collections by URA are based. For example, it was the same officers who started Special Revenue Protection Services (SPRS) which badly fought the issue of magendo. The officers behind this included Shaban Bantariza, Stephen Basaliza, Moses Rwakitarate, Andrew Lutaaya, Fred Boogere. Whereas Moses Rwakitarate is still in service, his other colleagues have either retired and one died.Andrew Lutaaya who by then was a Lt. Colonel, stagnated on that rank for 15years until he was given a rank of Brigadier and he was retired. Lutaaya is the man president Museveni refers to in his Sowing the Mastered seed book who manned the boat for hours as he moved to Kenya. He is also the man who transported rebels in his lorry to make the first attack on Kabamba. The last we had about him was when he was complaining about his alleged land in Mubende.As for Col. Boogere, he is now retired and is in private life practicing as a lawyer. When he is not into his professional work, he is either at his home in Luzira, Bulemeezi or Buddu. His troubles began when he refused to vote on removal of presidential term limits in 2005 unlike other army MPs who all supported. Col. Boogere is reported to be the seniorest army officer from Luweero; the cradle for NRM revolution. 
Stephen Basaliza also retired from the forces and he was posted as a commissioner Uganda Human Rights Commission where he served for one term even as he was still eligible for another term. He is now on katebe although sources said the president promised to post him somewhere in government. This was a few months ago when Basaliza was asked to stand down in race for Elderly MP seat for western region. There was a meeting chaired by Dr. Chrispus Kiyonga and Tom Butime which agreed that Basaliza steps down in favor of another member and the president agreed to post him either as a deputy IGG, commissioner in Uganda Human Rights Commission or as an Ambassador. Museveni last evening appointed a new IGG and one deputy but tactically left one position of second deputy IGG.

He appointed MP loser Beti Kamya as new IGG replacing Irene Mulyagonja who resigned sometime back and also appointed a lady called Muhairwe as first deputy IGG. Muhairwe replaces Ms Wangadya whose term as deputy IGG expires on August 2 2021 and she was posted as chairperson Uganda Human Rights Commission. As for the second deputy IGG Mr. Bamugemereire, his contract expired long ago. With Kamya and Muhairwe now appointed, this leaves one position of deputy IGG hanging to fully make the IG fully constituted and it’s not clear whether the army will this time have one of its own taking a seat there too in the names of Col. Stephen Basaliza.

We are told that now the president has finished fixing the civil service, he is soon announcing changes in the foreign service, RDCs and also filling gaps in all existing commissions. More attention is going to the military officers.

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