The Minister of National Guidance and ICT, Dr Chris Baryomunsi has appealed to the public to respect the dead. This, in reference to individuals who are using social media to celebrate the death of former Security Minister, Gen Elly Tumwine.
“We condemn such acts. We appeal to Ugandans to remain humane and well-mannered. It is important for all of us to respect the dead in order not to hurt his or her grieving relatives, friends and family,” Baryomunsi said in an interview with NTV on Saturday.
Gen Tumwine succumbed to lung cancer on Thursday from Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi Kenya, but since the announcement of his death, many Ugandans have been using various social media platforms to celebrate his death while others are scoffing at the deceased for allegedly justifying the killing protesters by security personnel if they are attacked.
In November 2020 at the peak of presidential campaigns, security shot dead more than 50 people in protests that broke out after the arrest of opposition politician Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu. Although, the killings received condemnation from all over the world, Tumwine as Security Minister then, said he had no apologies for anybody who was killed while attacking security forces.
“Police has a right to shoot you and kill you if you reach a certain level of violence,” Tumwiine said then.
It is behind this background that social media users say the deceased senior military officer acted irresponsibly. In fact, many have since created memes depicting him heading to hell or already there.
Commenting on his death, FDC spokesperson and Kira Municipality MP, Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganga had no kind words for Gen Tumwiine
“The man who said that the security personnel have a right to shoot people to death is the one who has died. He had not learnt; he thought the army was above everything. The one who promised to kill people is the one God has called,” Ssemuju said.
According to Baryomunsi, such memes and mockeries to the dead cause serious emotional damages to the family members and friends.
Meanwhile, according to the funeral programme released by Defence Spokesperson, Brig Gen Felix Kulayigye, indicates that an official vigil for the deceased will be held tomorrow Sunday 4pm at his home in Nakasero, Kampala.
On Monday August 29, a requiem service will be held at Kololo Independence grounds starting 10am before moving the body to his ancestral home at Mukuru village, Kazo District in Western Uganda.
Kulayigye says a requiem service will then on Tuesday August 30 at his ancestral home. He will thereafter be buried at the very place in the afternoon on the same day.
Gen Tumwine was one of the founder members of the National Resistance Army (NRA), which fought a five-year war that brought President Yoweri Museveni to power in 1986.
It is believed that Gen Tumwine fired the first shot as the then-rebel group attacked a military barracks and launched its bush war uprising in central Uganda.
He became commander of the rebel army in 1984 – holding the position until 1987, a year after it had taken power.
He had held several positions in government over the last couple of decades, including security minister and deputy defence minister. He was also a long-term member of parliament representing the army.