The Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) has confirmed that Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Kasirye Gwanga will be laid to rest on Friday 12th June 2020.
Gen. Gwanga passed away on Tuesday at Nakasero Hospital in Kampala where he had spend more than a week battling an illness.
In a statement released by the Spokesperson of the Defense Ministry, Brig. Richard Karemire, Gen. Gwanga’s burial will take place at Nkene Village, Busujju County in Mityana District at 10:00HRS.
The army noted that Gwanga’s body is currently kept at Bombo Military Hospital where it will be retrieved and taken to its final resting place on Friday.
However, the army noted that few selected mourners from UPDF and family members will attend the burial ceremony in line with preventive guidelines from government against the spread of coronavirus.
Brig. Karemire says no crowds are expected along the way and UPDF supported by its sister agencies in security will be there to enforce social distancing guidelines.
The media too has been limited to only two media houses at Gen. Gwanga’s burial. Uganda Broadcasting Corporation Television (UBC) will be allowed to relay live events from Gen. Gwanga’s burial while the New Vision will represent print media.
He said whereas the army is aware that Gen. Kasirye Gwanga was a darling to people of Mityana and the press, the situation demands such, and they must bear with the arrangements as laid out.
A career soldier, Gen. Kasirye joined the army in 1972 and he was in active service until 2005 at the rank of Brigadier.
With vast military competences and experience, Gen. Gwanga participated in daring military operations and served in several other roles including; the LC5 chairman for Mubende District and as the director of stores in the UPDF.
On 31 January 2005, he was retired from the UPDF at the rank of Brigadier. However, after three months on the outside he came back to the military and asked to be re-instated. The UPDF commander-in-chief allowed him to rejoin on a renewable contract of five years.
At the time of his death, Gen. Kasirye Gwanga was President Museveni’s advisor on Buganda Kingdom Affairs.
In March 2018, Kasirye Ggwanga was promoted from the rank of Brigadier to that of Major General and officially retired from the Uganda military, in 2018.