Museveni’s bush war saviour laid to rest

MUSEVENI | DEATH | WAMALWA 

President Yoweri Museveni's has mourned the late James Wamalwa and praised him for saving his life and paving way for a stable and peaceful Uganda.

Wamalwa, a Kenyan national, was buried on Saturday at his home in Sikusi, Kabuchai, Bungoma County Central. He worked as Special Branch Officer under the Uganda Police.

"I always referred to Wamalwa as rafiki (friend) because he saved me from death in 1971. Had he detained me plus my other colleagues, our lives would have ended then”, said President Museveni in a message delivered by Simon Mulongo, the African Union Commission special envoy. 

“He saved our lives and paved the way for a new Uganda with a new government,” Museveni said. 

In 1971, Wamalwa interrogated President Museveni, Magode Ikuya, the state minister for East African Affairs and Abwooli Malibo when they were arrested in Bumbo, then located in Bugisu district but now in Namisindwa district on suspicion of planning clandestine activities.

The three were in the area to plan to fight Idi Amin’s military government, which had taken power in a coup in 1971. 

"Wamalwa being a kind officer, knew our intentions, but the thought of us being killed by Amin, evoked empathy in him and he set us free. He told us to go away and stop whatever we were pursuing," President Museveni told mourners.

James Wamalwa (All Photos by Lydia Nabwire)

The President contributed $5,000 towards burial arrangements and also pledged to continue to support the family.

Wamalwa joined the Uganda Police in 1957 and was discharged in 1985.

 “Wamalwa’ act of saving President Museveni’s life changed Uganda's history and the region,” said Mulongo. 

After he was freed President Museveni continued mobilizing Ugandans to liberate Uganda under the Front for National Salvation (FRONASA), which contributed to the fall of Amin in 1979.

FRONASA, later, morphed into National Resistance Army/ Movement, which captured power in 1986 and Museveni became president. 

President Museveni talked to the family members through Dr Fred Wamalwa, one of the Wamalwa’s children before the burial.

“We are humbled by the kindness and generosity that President Museveni has shown the Wamalwa family. We are humbled by the Ugandan delegation that travelled from Uganda to grace our father’s send-off. Your presence has made us proud. We now know that our father was a famous man who is treasured by many other people beyond Kenya,” Fred Wamalwa told mourners.

The Uganda delegation included the RDC Namisindwa district, Abubakar Kadunabi Lubega, Maj. Stephen Watasa the OWC coordinator for Namisindwa and the former Manafwa deputy RDC Irene Mangali. 

Also present at the burial was Senator Moses Wetangula of Bungoma County, who is also the leader of FORD Kenya in One Kenya Alliance (OKA) and other dignitaries in the Kenya government. 

Wetangula, a nephew to Wamalwa, said Wamalwa was an embodiment of the true meaning of the East African Community.

“Mzee Wamalwa always worked towards the integration of the East African Community. His love for unity pushed him to serve Uganda for over 30 years under Uganda Police,” Wetangula said. 

The Bungoma County Senator also sounded a warning to those presidential aspirants who are preaching hate with the intention of inciting violence among the people. 

Wetangula thanked President Museveni for being a true friend to Wamalwa while he was still alive and ensuring that he gets a decent send-off.  

Fred Wamalwa appreciated New Vision for the media coverage it gave his father. 

"New Vision has made us proud. It has made my father proud much as he is dead. We have managed to give him such a befitting sendoff partly because of New Vision which published the story of his death and his friends came to know about it. We are forever indebted," he said.

Wamalwa was a Mubutu by the clan and given the fact that this clan also exists in Uganda, many Bamasaba from Uganda attended the burial.