John Kazoora fled from Makerere University before graduation and joined the NRA rebellion in Luweero. In the third part of our serialisation of extracts from his memoirs, he reveals his encounters with Paul Kagame, Saleh’s shooting from the hip, and the toll of war on Museveni.

Title: Betrayed by my leader
Author: John B. Kazoora
Available: Monday, Aug. 13

Kampala.

We were ordered to sit down, and in came a towering man exuding a lot of poise and confidence. He asked us to introduce ourselves; our reasons for wanting to join the struggle and about the journey to the bush. We later learnt that he was the most feared Commander Matayo Kyaligonza (Now Major General). He said he was disappointed with “intellectuals” because one intellectual called Kwizera who had also left Makerere University had harassed a girl in the village. In his mind he lumped us together with Kwizera. I was surprised by the generalising.

[Later] Paul Kagame the intelligence officer (Now President of Rwanda) called us and took away our identity cards. When we asked him why, he said “why do you need identity cards? Don’t bring your intellectualism here”, and that was the last we saw of them. We immediately started military training.

After three weeks of training in Kitebere at about 7:30p.m. I heard people whispering that Mzee (Chairman High Command (CHC)) Yoweri Museveni had come to our camp. The following morning he summoned our group of Biraaro, Karegyesa, Gariyo, Bwirizayo and I. He was seated with Sam Magara and Elly Tumwine. He asked us to introduce ourselves and to tell him where we originated from.

A few weeks later the CHC sent for our group again. We went and found him seated with Sam Magara and Frank Guma. After fidgeting and saluting him, he asked us to reintroduce ourselves again and wanted to know what we had read at university. All of us had read Political Science except Kenneth Gariyo who had studied Accounting. He then asked us who had taught us Political Science and we told him Mahmood Mamdani. He burst out laughing and said “how can Mamdani of all people teach you? What did he teach you anyway?”

Kigongo was immediately summoned by the High Command. He denied he was trying to escape and said that he had no passport. I was then summoned and asked if Kigongo had a passport. I confirmed that he did. I was then asked to leave so I did not know what transpired thereafter. I was very embarrassed to have given Kigongo’s game away because we had become like father and son through these difficult times in the bush, but I knew that if he had escaped I would have gotten in trouble. I had also expected and hoped that the CHC would handle the matter without involving me.

My relationship with Kigongo from then onwards went downhill. He was distant and cold with me, though he did not say anything about the matter. I had expected to be immediately removed from his service but this was not the case.

When we later captured Kampala in 1986 he told me “My son – do you know I could have been executed because of your treachery” to which I replied “Mzee – if it was not for me, you would not be Vice Chairman of NRM today”.

War takes toll on Museveni
When the final attack on Kabamba was in the offing, the CHC summoned me to Galamba in Busiro. I passed via Lukola and proceeded with Julius Chihadae to Galamba. CHC had earlier spread a rumour that the final attack on Kampala was imminent. When other comrades saw me they believed the rumour since I was the one in the farthest detach.

I saluted CHC and he asked me how Kyamusisi was. That was all he had to say. He was actually going to attack Kabamba and not Kampala. He was using the tactic of moving to the east while targeting the west. After I returned to Kyamusisi, Saleh continued with his group to Kabamba which they successfully attacked on 1st January 1985.

The CHC had meanwhile joined me at Namawugulu Forest for some days with half of the group that was due to reinforce incase of any eventuality. I ensured that he was well looked-after and provided with the necessary food and information.

About 10 years later, the government organised Heroes Day in Kyamusisi. I was not invited. In his book “Sowing the Mustard Seed”, Museveni mentions Kyamusisi – but not Kazoora who he had sent there to organise it. Was he trying to re-write history?

Tinyefuza’s Escapades 
In September 1984, some senior officers had wives, mistresses, girlfriends and concubines in the camps. However, when the enemy squeezed us, the High Command ordered that all non-combatant women should leave immediately except Salim Saleh’s Jovia and Pecos Kuteesa’s Dora. This selective application of the rule infuriated Tinyefuza and some other officers including Henry Tumukunde who were both recuperating from gunshot wounds.

Tinyefuza had a concubine and he insisted that his concubine would stay in the bush just like Dora and Jovia. Tinyefuza also accused the CHC of favouritism and sidelining some fighters, and of being a dictator. Many people were not happy with the selective application of the rules.

At that time we were still living under concealment and we would only move with weapons at night. Hearing of Tinyefuza’s behaviour, for the first time in a long time, the CHC moved with RPGs and LPGs in broad daylight. He said he had come to quell a rebellion and that he was ready to break Tinyefuza’s legs into pieces. Tinyefuza was arrested and suspended from the High Command and spent some time in incarceration (endaaki) for defiance and disobeying the High Command’s orders. He was released in March 1985.

Facing off with Kasirye Ggwanga
While UNLA was still in disorganisation because of the 1985 coup, Saleh told me to continue reconnoitring Mityana. I found that most of the forces had withdrawn. It was only Mityana Police station that was armed. The Federal Democratic Movement for Uganda (FEDEMU) had been operating in the outskirts of Mityana towards Kampala, but their operations had been clumsy and cruel. They harassed wanainchi, stole and raped. I therefore began by disarming Mityana Police Post and put the guns in a land rover that I had.

After that a tall FEDEMU Commander who was wearing a cowboy hat came swaggering up to me and introduced himself as Kasirye Gwanga (now Brigadier), claiming that he controlled the area. He had previously belonged to Kayiira’s UFM.

FEDEMU was trying to claim some space after the Obote coup. I advised Kasirye Gwanga that I was advancing towards Mityana town and it was up to him to either cooperate or be annihilated. He immediately backed down and swiftly retreated. The next time I would see him was after we had captured power and he was part of us. With FEDEMU dealt with, we marched to Mityana to a thunderous welcome.

Links to Rwanda & meeting Prince Mutebi
In October 1985, Kabarole District was fully liberated, following on from Bundibugyo, which had been liberated earlier. Kabarole was the base of the first NRM interim government with offices at Muchwa and with Abbey Mukwaya as its first Special District Administrator (SDA).