General Edward Katumba Wamala has marked the completion of 47 years of military service, reflecting on a career that has taken him from joining the army in 1979 to serving in senior military and government positions.
Katumba, who served as Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transport before his recent retirement from active military service, said he completed his 47th year in uniform on July 31, 2026.
In a message shared on social media, Katumba expressed gratitude to God, his comrades in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and the people of Uganda for what he described as the privilege of serving the country.
“47 years in uniform. 47 years of service to Uganda,” Katumba said. “As I close this chapter, I do so with deep gratitude to God, my comrades, the UPDF and the people of Uganda for the privilege to serve.”
He described his military career as a lifetime of service and said Uganda would remain in his heart.
Tribute to President Museveni
Reflecting on his entry into military service, Katumba specifically credited President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni with encouraging him and others to join the army in 1979.
Katumba said Museveni, who was then serving as Minister of Defence in the Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF) government, inspired many young Ugandans to enlist.
“In 1979, as Minister of Defence in the UNLF Government, he encouraged and inspired many of us to join the Army and serve our country,” Katumba said.
He added that the decision shaped most of his life and that serving under Museveni as Commander-in-Chief had left an “indelible mark” on his career.
Katumba described Museveni as one of the most significant leaders in his journey, thanking him for the trust, mentorship and opportunities he received.
The reflection comes after Katumba’s long association with Museveni, which spans Uganda’s post-1979 military and political history.
Remembering those he mentored
Katumba also used the occasion to acknowledge colleagues and people he had worked with throughout his career.
Responding to a tribute from former Assistant Inspector General of Police Asan Kasingye, Katumba said one of the greatest rewards of a life in service was knowing that he had helped others develop.
“Leadership, to me, is about building people, believing in them, and preparing them to carry the responsibility forward,” he said.
He thanked Kasingye for his tribute and said he was proud of the journey the former police officer had made.
“If I have helped groom and inspire even a few, then my 47 years of service have been worthwhile,” Katumba said.
Kasingye, in his tribute, recalled the day Katumba took over as Inspector General of Police (IGP), linking the occasion to his own graduation from Makerere University with a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration and Management.
From soldier to senior government official
Katumba’s military career began in 1979, and he rose through the ranks to become one of the most senior officers in the UPDF.
He served as Chief of Defence Forces and later as State Minister for Works before becoming Minister of Works and Transport.
His career also included service as Inspector General of Police, making him one of the few Ugandan military officers to have occupied the country’s top police leadership position.
Katumba’s military career was also marked by personal tragedy. In 2021, he survived an assassination attempt in Kampala in which his daughter, Brenda Nantongo, and his driver, Haruna Kayondo, were killed. Katumba was seriously injured in the attack.
As he closes his military chapter, Katumba’s reflections have centred less on the positions he held and more on service, comradeship and the people he influenced throughout his career.
After nearly five decades in uniform, he said his gratitude remained with the institutions and people who accompanied him through the journey. “A lifetime in service. A country forever in my heart,” Katumba said.