By Cedrick Mwesigwa
Wanted activist Norman Tumuhimbise biological father also a retired warrant 2 UPDF officer mzee Patrick Nuwagaba is seeking for an audience with the commander in chief of armed forces also the head of state Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, regarding the matter of his son who recently went missing, following the military raid of his residence in Lukuli Nanganda-Makindye in Kampala, at the end of last month.
Tumuhimbise fled his home on Sunday March 29th as soon as he learnt of the news confirming disappearance of his business partner and friend journalist Arnold Mukose by the men adorn in plain clothes who later came to be owned up by the Uganda Police Force.
Mukose was from appearing on Metro FM Radio talk show in Kampala when he was picked before he could be held in detention for several days.
It later emerged from his sister Lilian Tumuhimbise and other human rights defenders that Tumuhimbise’s residence came under invasion on Monday March 30th by a section of military personnel who went there, driving in a van commonly referred to as drone, forced themselves inside the house aiming at tracing him although he could not be found.
Tumuhimbise’s sister claimed to have been tortured and put on gun point to disclose his big brothers’ where about which she had scanty information about, sparking human rights abuse and misuse of authority concerns by the family members and activists.
Against that back drop, the ex-military officer interacted with Blazer News Times in an exclusive interview through which he revealed the little-known other side of his relationship with Gen. Museveni, that he intends to use as stepping stone to explore an audience, aimed at restoring freedom for his fugitive son who is wanted by the Ugandan state.
Nuwagaba’s Relationship with Museveni.
Nuwagaba who served the Ugandan army for 40 years revealed how Gen. Museveni was his friend dating back from the early days at Ntale SS where they went together for O and A level education.
“HE is my friend. You see, after liberation, we were supposed to go back to Kabamba for proper documentation and get the Uganda army numbers. HE, because is my friend, he gave me 200 Ugx from his pocket and a movement order because with army you have got to go from point A-B” He explained.
Mzee Nuwagaba confirmed to have been assigned by the president at some point to execute his military project work which did not come fruition due to reasons well known to the president.
“I was working under his office, I couldn’t go to Kabamba without a movement order from him to prove that I have been in Kampala, so he gave me 200 Ugx and a movement order from Kampala Republic House to Kabamba for documentation. what happened there it is another story he knows HE my commander in chief” He narrated.
Draped with an army green ceremonial military fatigue, Nuwagaba said it was not feeling good for his son to be forced into an un known location, asking to have an audience with the president to listen to his side of the story.
“If I could get a chance to talk to HE, he knows me as Nuwagaba from Ntale School, he is my OB. We joined the army to liberate this country from the behaviors of the passed armies which intend to be brought back”.
The retired UPDF officer decried what he called mis conduct by some current military officers whom he said needed to revise it. “We were also in the army, that’s why I would like to talk to them. we are not supposed to talk in the media because we have a way we can solve our issues within the army”. He further emphasized.
He joined the army in April, 11th, 1979 when it was still named the Uganda army. Nuwagaba worked under the NRA now the UPDF in various missions including in Somalia before he could be retired in 2017.
