Gen Elly Tumwiine on Monday commemorated 40 years since he came face to face with death in the early days of the National Resistance Army war which propelled the current NRM government to power.
On November 1st 1981, shortly after the successful raid on Kabamba Military Barracks, Tumwiine was shot in the face during a battle with government forces at Bukomero.
He lost his right eye and had to be hospitalized secretly at Mengo and Mulago Hospitals in Kampala.
Speaking yesterday to commemorate 40 years after the incident, Gen Tumwiine said he was grateful to God not just for saving his life but his sight.
“When I emerged from surgery the doctors told me I was very lucky because eyes are usually sympathetic to each other in that such an injury to one eye could have left the other blinded as well,” he said.
“I call this (November 1st) my day, because it’s a day I recognize God’s hand and his mighty providence to say that ‘I still want you here.’ My survival was proof that I still have some work to do here.”
