General Aronda Nyakairima to be remembered in style

6 September 2024, 2:37 pm

By Ronald Ssemagonja

On 12th September 2015, the country was ‘frozen’ following the announcement of the death of General Aronda Nyakairima, a senior army officer, pan-Africanist, and former Minister for Internal Affairs, who passed away in the United Arab Emirates.

Against this background, the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Force (UPDF) fraternity and others have organised the 1st Kampala Defence Force Security Expo 2024 at the Common Wealth Resort in Munyonyo. Under the theme: “Celebrating the Life of the Late Hon. Gen Aronda Nyakairima: A Paragon of Revolutionary Sacrifice, Pan-Africanism, Patriotism, Courage, and an Accomplished Freedom Fighter,” the event will take place from 10th to 12th September 2024.

Speaking to journalists at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, the UPDF Political Commissar, Maj Gen. Henry Masiko, said, “Significantly, he was our first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF). Previously, we had army commanders when we were a single service, but once the two services merged, he became the first CDF. He guided the reorganisation of the UPDF.”

During the same media briefing, the Executive Director of the National Identification Regulatory Authority (NIRA), Rosemary Kisembo, said that they will always remember the late Nyakairima. She remarked that he saw no impossibilities in any task.

“Had he been in another country, he might have reached Mars or somewhere else,” Kisembo added. Despite the challenges in his own environment, she noted that today, when faced with a simple task and presented with ten impossibilities and one possibility, he always chose the one possibility and transformed the ten impossibilities.

According to Maj. Gen. Masiko, the chief guest will be the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Uganda, Retired Gen. Yoweri Museveni, who will deliver the keynote address. Attendance is by invitation only.