Gen. Aronda Nyakairima remembered as a dedicated public servant – The Kampala Report

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has praised the late Gen. Aronda Nyakairima for his transformative impact on Uganda’s voter identification system, which has been a cornerstone of the country’s democracy and stability.

Museveni made the remarks during the memorial thanksgiving ceremony for the late Gen. Aronda, held at the Commonwealth Resort, Munyonyo. According to Museveni, when he was appointed Nyakairima Minister of Internal Affairs, he tackled a problem that had plagued Uganda since independence; the accurate identification of Ugandans, particularly voters.

He highlighted that the 1962 elections were marred by widespread fraud orchestrated by the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and Kabaka Yekka.“Each party had its box, and voters were secretly directed to fill boxes in favour of UPC.

The boxes, marked with symbols like the hoe for DP and a finger for Kabaka Yekka, were manipulated to ensure results favoured the UPC. This level of deceit undermined the entire electoral process, making MPs unaccountable and indifferent to their constituents,” Museveni noted.

Following Amin’s removal in 1979, Museveni said his group sought to reform this corrupt system.“Despite our efforts to introduce transparent practices like one ballot box per polling station and public voting, cheating persisted with multiple registrations and fake ballot papers,” Museveni explained. He added that while in power, he introduced the idea of electronic voting with fingerprint identification, to combat the vice. “Fingerprints are unique; Gen. Muhoozi’s fingerprints are different from mine,” Museveni noted.

Initially met with scepticism, the President said the technology was refined through a partnership between Uganda and a German company, which proposed scanning the entire hand to ensure accuracy. He added that although the machines were procured, a legal loophole allowed manual voting if the machines failed.“The law must be amended to state that if the electronic system fails, elections at that polling station should be suspended. Aronda’s efforts were significant, but the law still left room for cheating.”

President Museveni also praised Nyakairima’s discipline and the significance of the culture of remembering the contributions of such exceptional people. “This remembrance is crucial for justice and education, providing a forum for retired and serving officers to unite. I salute those who organised this remembrance ceremony. This is a good culture because it does justice to those who sacrificed, so people get to know what they did. We have now done justice to Gen. Aronda.

Additionally, people who were not there get to learn about what the departed did; it is an education for all. Lastly, it creates a forum where retired, still-serving, and young officers come together,” Museveni added.

He also acknowledged the success of Wazalendo Savings and Credit Cooperative, which Gen. Aronda significantly advanced, turning it into a major institution.“We had talked about this Wazalendo for a long time, and it was not being implemented. The present leadership in UPDF should find out why Wazalendo has not taken off yet. We had talked about it a long time, but Aronda came and jump-started it. It’s now a very big bank,” he noted.

Linda Aronda, the widow of Nyakairima, reflected on her husband’s remarkable life and legacy. “In the 1990s, I met a young Aronda, then a Major. From the very start, he was a dedicated officer at the Presidential Protection Unit, now known as the Special Forces Command. Even during our courtship, his commitment to his work was unwavering. Despite his demanding role, he always made time for our relationship. There were times during our dates when he would receive urgent calls to return to work. He would promptly drop me home and head back to his duties. Our bond deepened, leading to our marriage in 1996 and the birth of our two wonderful children, Samuel and Samantha,” Aronda’s widow said.

She also spoke about the challenges of balancing family life with a military career. “After our marriage, he was transferred to Masaka’s Armored Brigade, which meant our family saw little of him. However, whenever he returned home, he made it a priority to spend quality time with me and the children, despite his hectic schedule. Even with his packed schedule, he always tried to be present for us. Although he couldn’t attend school events frequently, he made those moments special when he could. His honesty, patience, and kindness were evident to all who knew him.”

Earlier on, the ceremony was preceded by a service officiated by All Saints Cathedral, Kampala, and led by Rt. Rev. Onesimus Asiimwe, the Bishop of North Kigezi Diocese, with assistance from Rt. Rev. Emeritus Patrick Tugume.

This event marked the final day of a three-day 2024 Kampala Defence and Security Expo, which commenced on Tuesday, September 10, 2024. The expo was held under the theme: “Celebrating the Life of Hon. Gen. Aronda Nyakairima; A Paragon of Revolutionary Sacrifice, Pan-Africanism, Patriotism, Courage, and an Accomplished Freedom Fighter.”

In 2013, Nyakairima was appointed a Minister of Internal Affairs which he served alongside being an MP representing UPDF. On September 12, 2015, while on a trip from South Korea.