Freedom For Sejusa As He Leads Pack Of 50 Army Generals Who Have Retired From UPDF
A former policeman, Gen Sejusa was part of the Museveni-led rebel group – the National Resistance Army – that in 1981 waged a guerrilla war against the Dr Milton Obote regime; toppling it in 1996. He is a highly decorated war veteran who is respected among his peers especially those with who he was fighting in the war that ushered in the current regime.
The journey of Gen David Sejusa, formerly David Tinyefuza, in the army (National Resistance Army (NRA) which later became the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has been thorny– today he was on good terms with his bosses, tomorrow they are bickering.
Gen. Sejusa has on more than two occasions tried to quit the army but his plans have always been thwarted by his bosses for reasons that are not clear to those outside the military. The public could only speculate
In between his trials of quitting the military, Gen Sejusa turned into an enemy of the state – the latest altercation with the military hierarchy is when in 2013 he authored that famous Muhoozi Project letter when he was the coordinator of intelligence agencies.
Sensing reprimanding when the letter leaked to the media and was published in the Daily Monitor newspaper, Gen Sejusa ran to exile in the United Kingdom; but even when he returned to the country, his life as a serving officer of UPDF has never been the same.
And today, that wish has been granted to Gen Sejusa – he, alongside 50 other Generals of the UPDF has been retired from the army during a ceremony that took place at State House in Entebbe and presided over by the commander in chief of the armed force, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Today, Gen Sejusa becomes free from the chains of the army codes. He has earned his freedom from the army order.
According to available information, Gen Sejusa was born on 13th November 1954. A lawyer, he is said to have studied at Nyakasura High School in Kabarole district, western Uganda. He has a Bachelor and Master of Laws from Makerere University and Diploma in Legal Practice attained from Law Development Centre.
A former policeman, Gen Sejusa was part of the Museveni-led rebel group – the National Resistance Army – that in 1981 waged a guerrilla war against the Dr Milton Obote regime; toppling it in 1996. He is a highly decorated war veteran who is respected among his peers especially those with who he was fighting in the war that ushered in the current regime.
After the war that brought Museveni to power, Gen Sejusa served as a member of the National Resistance Army Council (NRAC) and the National Executive Committee (NEC). Between 1989 and 1992, he served as Minister of State for Defense.
In 1993, he was appointed Presidential Adviser on Peace and Security, serving in that capacity until 1997. He was appointed Senior Presidential Adviser and Coordinator of Intelligence in 2005, a position he held until 2013 – when he penned that Muhoozi Project letter suggesting that Museveni was grooming his son Muhoozi Kainerugaba to succeed him unconstitutionally.
He served as army commander and also a member of High Command UPDF, the UPDF defence council and a member of parliament representing the Uganda People’s Defence Force. He had a falling out with Museveni and formed the Freedom and Unity Front in exile in the United Kingdom following being charged for plotting a coup where he has been allegedly planning anti-government activities by the Museveni government.
Meanwhile, a total of 260 senior Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) officers were Tuesday honourably retired from active service after more than thirty years (30) of service to the nation and region at the Land Forces Headquarters in Bombo, Luwero district. The retired officers included: 62 are the rank of Colonel, 65 Lieutenant Colonels and 133 Majors.
While officiating at the function, the UPDF Commander Land Forces (CLF) Lt Gen Muhoozi Keinerugaba on behalf of the President and Commander in Chief of the UPDF H.E Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni thanked the retiring Senior Officers for the great work done in preserving peace and stability both in the country and beyond.
“You indeed defined the spirit of patriotism and self-service. These two elements have always been great pillars in the UPDF,” he said, adding that offices will always remain open to them for any assistance. “This is a day of celebrations, it’s your day. Enjoy it fully and God bless you,” he noted. He, however, warned them to be careful as they begin a new chapter of life in the civilian world.
