Elly Tumwine | |
---|---|
Born |
Uganda |
12 April 1954
Residence | Kampala, Uganda |
Nationality | Ugandan |
Citizenship | Uganda |
Education |
Makerere University (Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art) ( Diploma in Education) Tanzania Military Academy (Officer Cadet Course) Uganda Senior Command and Staff College (Senior Command and Staff Course) |
Occupation | Educator and Military officer |
Years active | 1981 – present |
Home town | Mbarara |
General Elly Tumwine (born 12 April 1954) is a Ugandan military officer, professional artist, and educator. He served as Commander of the National Resistance Army from 1984 to 1987. He is one of the highest-ranking members of the Ugandan military and is a member of the Ugandan Parliament, representing the Uganda People's Defense Force.
Elly Tumwine was born on 12 April 1954, in Burunga, Mbarara District. He attended Burunga Primary School, Mbarara High School and St. Henry's College Kitovu, before joining Makerere University, where in 1977, he graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art together with the Diploma in Education; abbreviated:BA(FA)/Dip. Ed. He specialised in the history of art painting.
He subsequently graduated from the Cadet Officers Course at the Tanzania Military Academy at Monduli. He also attended the Senior Command Course at the Uganda Senior Command and Staff College at Kimaka, in Jinja, Uganda, being a member of the pioneer class that graduated in 2005. Tumwine also holds further military qualifications from the military academy in Vystry, in the Soviet Union.
In 1978, he interrupted his teaching career to join the FRONASA forces led by Yoweri Museveni to fight the Idi Amin regime. In 1981, when Museveni went to the bush to form the National Resistance Army (NRA), Elly Tumwine went with him. He is reported to have fired the first shot in the National Resistance Army War, which propelled the National Resistance Army and National Resistance Movement into power in Uganda in 1986. During the fighting between the NRA and the UNLA, Tumwine sustained facial injuries that led to loss of sight in one eye. In 1984, Tumwine was named Commander of the Army, a post he held until 1987, when he was succeeded by General Salim Saleh. Over the years, he served in various positions, including: