NRA bush war hero Rtd Col Kashillingi dies

By Bizwan Kirunda

3^rd Nov 2022

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) is mourning one of the historical National Resistance Army-NRA bush war heroes Retired Colonel Ahmed Kashilingi who died on Thursday.

One of his brothers, Tanazio Biryabarema, says that Kashilingi died in the wee hours today Thursday 3^rd November 2022 after a short illness.

As R0-040, Kashilingi was one of the senior commanders of the NRA who captured Kampala in 1986.

Unlike some of the senior commanders, Kashilingi hasn’t played many major roles in the government of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who has been in power now for 37 years.

Col Deo Akiiki, the UPDF deputy defence spokesperson confirmed Kashillingi’s death and said that the late played a crucial role in the bush war struggle to liberate Uganda.

He says The UPDF is working closely with the family to give him a befitting send off.

According to Military and Security history Uganda, Kashillingi (𝚁𝙾/𝟶𝟶𝟺𝟶) was born in Rukungiri district, completed his A-level’s at Kigezi College Butobere in 1967 and travelled to Mbarara hoping to join the Uganda Prisons.

On failure to be recruited allegedly because of his height, he sneaked and joined other recrutees got training in the UK (admin course), Iraq and Libya (commando courses) in 1970s.

After the fall of Amin in 1979, Kashillingi was arrested and detained at Luzira from where he later except along with many others.

When Andrew Kayira formed Uganda Freedom Movement (UFM), Kashillingi joined alongside other former Uganda Army soldiers Kasirye Ggwanga, Stephen Ndugutse and George Nkwanga.

In 1980, Kashillingi met an old acquaintance, Joy Mirembe, who recruited him into the People’s Redemption Army (PRA/NRA) where he became a legendary commander.

It was Kashilingi who commanded the successful raid on Nakaseke Hospital in 1982 that not only yielded much needed medicines but also resulted in the recruitment of the first medical personnel of the NRA including Lt Col. Dr. Ronald Bata and Major Ondoga Ori Amaza.

As the march towards Kampala gained momentum in 1985, he commanded the NRA 5th battalion in one of the fiercest battles of the war at Katonga Bridge on Masaka-Mbarara road before being tasked with blocking Entebbe road during the final rebel onslaught on Kampala in Jan 1986.

In 1992, he was charged with treason and imprisoned for years under tough conditions before his acquittal in 1995.

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