Staff Reporter
Brigadier General Fred Twinamatsiko, Director of Training and Doctrine for the UPDF Land Forces, has been laid to rest with full military honors at his ancestral home in Kabaare Village, Rutare Parish, Muhanga Town Council, Rukiga District. The burial included an 11-gun salute.
Brigadier General Twinamatsiko tragically passed away in a car accident on Masaka Road on Friday, September 13, 2024, while returning from the funeral of the late Sarah Mateke, the State Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs, and former Kisoro District Woman Member of Parliament.
The casket was lowered into the grave at 4:00 PM. During the send-off service at Kakatunda Primary School, Brigadier General Matthew Gureme, Chief of Training and Recruitment, and Brigadier General Alex Opolot Olupot, Head of Joint Staff Training and Doctrine, eulogized Brigadier General Twinamatsiko. They described him as a dependable, respectful, disciplined, hardworking, and committed officer who was deeply loyal to his duties and profession.
Brigadier Generals Gureme and Olupot recalled the late general as a friendly and dedicated colleague with a profound passion for his work.
Major General Henry Masiko, Joint Staff Political Commissariat, praised Brigadier General Twinamatsiko as a model of loyalty, sacrifice, and professionalism. He highlighted the pride the UPDF took in the late general’s leadership and dedication. Major General Masiko, representing Chief of Defence Forces General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who served as the chief mourner, commended Brigadier General Twinamatsiko for his crucial role in maintaining peace and security in the country.
Rukiga County Member of Parliament, Roland Ndyomugyenyi Bish, who was also the late general’s uncle, expressed his personal grief, revealing that they had planned to meet in Kampala earlier in the week to discuss family matters.
During the burial service, Rev. Canon Milton Nkurunungi, Secretary of the Diocese of Kigezi, urged mourners to prioritize family, reminding them that death can come at any time and that there is life after death. He also called on them to have hope in God.
Brigadier General Twinamatsiko was born on November 28, 1962, and passed away at the age of 62. He is survived by three widows, nine children, and four grandchildren.
After graduating from university, Brigadier General Twinamatsiko joined the military by enlisting in the National Resistance Army (NRA). In 1988, he completed military training in Yugoslavia, and by 1991, he had earned the rank of 2nd Lieutenant following a cadet course. His exemplary leadership led to rapid promotions, and by 1995, he had achieved the rank of Captain after excelling in a senior commanders course in Munduri, Tanzania.
Throughout his distinguished career in the UPDF, Brigadier General Twinamatsiko held several key positions, including Paymaster for the 1st Division from 1989 to 1994 and instructor at the Gaddafi Garrison Unit. He was promoted to Brigadier in 2022 and completed numerous military courses in Kenya, Sweden, Yugoslavia, and Tanzania.
