The Internal Affairs minister, Gen Nyakairima Aronda has died. The 56-year-old General is reported to have died on transit to Dubai from South Korea.
Sources say he died of cardiac arrest. However, another trusted source said that the army man could have died of food poisoning. Furthermore, the source says he had complained of stomach pains before facing his untimely demise last night on his flight to Dubai.
His death has shocked many, of course, with scores of people taking to social media to mouth their condolences. Conspiracy theorists rushed to point fingers to the cause of his death which will leave unanswered questions floating.
Before his appointment as Minister of Internal Affairs in 2013, he served as Chief of Defence Forces from 2003-2013. He was one of the most trusted, professional army men and firmly planted in President Museveni’s good books.
Conspiracy theorists, however, had overtime labelled him as a silent opposer of the infamous Muhoozi Project. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Aronda Nyakairima Profile:
General Aronda Nyakairima (born 7 July, 1959) was a Ugandan army officer who served in the Cabinet of Uganda as Minister of Internal Affairs since 2013. Previously he was Chief of Defense Forces, the highest military rank in the Uganda People’s Defense Force , from 2003 to 2013.
Early life and education:
Nyakairima was born in Rukungiri District. He attended Kitgum High School in Kitgum District . He joined Makerere University in 1978, graduating in 1981, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in political science. He attended the Basic Officers Course in 1989, after the NRA had captured power in Kampala, Uganda’s capital city. He later attended a course in Strategic Studies at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, USA. He also has further military qualifications from the Egyptian Military Academy in Cairo .
Military career:
He joined the National Resistance Army in 1982, soon after leaving Makerere. After the NRA captured power, he worked as an intelligence officer in the Ugandan military. He later was appointed Assistant Director in the Directorate of Military Intelligence in the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF). He was then transferred to the Presidential Protection Unit as an Intelligence Officer. From there, he served as the Commanding Officer of the Armored Brigade before his appointment as Commander of the UPDF in 2003. He has represented the UPDF in the Ugandan Parliament since 1996.
In October 2010, General Nyakairima was inducted into the International Hall of Fame at the Lewis and Clark Centre at Fort Leavenworth , Kansas , United States of America, for attaining the highest position in the military of his country. Nyakairima,a 1993 graduate of Fort Leavenworth, was inducted together with General Eui Don Wang of South Korea, a 1986 graduate of the command college, and Major General Richard Rhys Jones of New Zealand , a 1992 graduate.
Nyakairmina was appointed to the cabinet as Minister of Internal Affairs on 23 May 2013. General Katumba Wamala was appointed to replace him as Chief of Defence Forces on the same day.
Personal details:
General Aronda Nyakairima was married. He did not drink or smoke. He was fluent in multiple languages including Luganda, English , Luo , Runyakitara, and Swahili.
Staff Writer