Gen Tumukunde, Gen Okecho, Col Bantariza finally retire from the army

By Joan Pounds

Three serving Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) including Deputy Executive Director Uganda Media Centre, Col Shaban Bantariza and Lt Gen Tumukunde have been retired from the army. 

The other officer is Lt. Gen Frederick Okecho.
The three officers’ retirement was announced at a ceremony in Mbuya Army barracks that was presided over by the Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Gen Edward Katumba Wamala on Monday.
Tumukunde’s retirement comes just weeks after President Museveni promoted him to the rank of Lieutenant General early this month.

Lt Gen Tumukunde, also former Director General of Internal Security Organisation (ISO), skipped the rank of major general in the promotion that was seen as reconciliation between him and President Museveni after falling out of favour with the establishment in 2005.

He was forced to resign as army MP after he openly expressed his opposition to the lifting of presidential term limits from the Constitution to allow Mr Museveni run for a third term. 

Early this year, Col Bantariza accused the former Chief of Defense Forces (CDF), the late Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, of masterminding his arrest and prosecution because of the trust President Yoweri Museveni has in him. 

Col. Bantariza had been arrested, charged and remanded over fraud-related offences while still the Director of National Leadership Institute (NALI).

He had been charged with seven offences which included misappropriation of resources, forgery, conspiracy to defraud, ill treatment of subordinates and misconduct.
However, on April 14 this year, the General Court Martial chaired by Maj Gen Levi Karuhanga acquitted Col Bantariza on grounds that prosecution failed to prove a case against him.

Two months later, President Yoweri Museveni re-appointed Col Bantariza as Deputy Executive Director Uganda Media Centre.

Officer waiting
The army is yet to retire former intelligence Chief David Tinyefuuza, who returned from exile and is now a critic of government although he is viewed by some sections of society as a mole.