General Edward Katumba Wamala has officially retired from military service after 47 years in uniform, closing a remarkable chapter that took him through wars, military operations, leadership and some of the most painful moments of his life.
Katumba, who also serves as Uganda’s Minister of Public Service, reflected on his long military journey during a farewell party at his home in Kikandwa, Kasawo, Mukono District.
He described his years in uniform as a journey shaped by passion, dedication, commitment and love for Uganda.
But alongside the pride of completing nearly five decades of service came memories of battles survived and personal tragedies that changed his life forever.
Katumba officially completed 47 years of military service on July 31, 2026, bringing to an end a career that began in 1979.
During his farewell gathering, the retired general reflected on some of the defining moments of his time in uniform, including experiences in conflict zones and the 2021 attack that left him seriously injured.
On May 31, 2021, unknown gunmen opened fire on Katumba’s vehicle along the Kisaasi–Kyanja road in Kampala.
The attack killed his daughter, Brenda Nantongo, and his driver, Haruna Kayondo.
Katumba survived with serious injuries.
Speaking about the incident during his farewell, he reflected on how different the circumstances would have been from the dangers he had faced during his military career.
“It was going to hurt me a lot to be gunned down by a serial killer on the road, yet I had survived many operations and wars in the bush that involved big machine guns and other weapons,” he said.
Katumba also recalled an experience in South Sudan, where he said he and fellow soldiers survived an ambush by rebels while fighting forces associated with Joseph Kony.
“One time we were in South Sudan fighting Joseph Kony, and the rebels made an ambush on us, but we managed to survive,” he recalled.
The retired general said surviving battlefield situations shaped how he viewed the 2021 attack.
“I would have felt bad as a general to be killed by a terrorist on the road. I would have rather died in the war.”
Beyond the difficult memories, Katumba used his farewell to express gratitude for the opportunity to serve.
He thanked God and President Yoweri Museveni, saying the President recognized his usefulness and gave him opportunities to take on different challenges throughout his military career.
“I thank God that my boss, President Museveni, saw my importance and usefulness. He gave me exposure and many challenges,” Katumba said.
His retirement now formally closes a 47-year military career that began in 1979.
Katumba Wamala’s military career spans nearly half a century of Uganda’s modern history.
Over those decades, he served in a range of military roles and took part in operations that exposed him to armed conflict and significant risks.
His own recollections of South Sudan highlight the dangers he encountered during his years in uniform.
The 2021 assassination attempt later became one of the most traumatic chapters of his life.
The attack not only left Katumba seriously injured but also claimed the lives of his daughter Brenda Nantongo and his driver Haruna Kayondo.
Despite those experiences, Katumba remained in public service.
Alongside his military career, he went on to serve in Uganda’s cabinet and currently holds the position of Minister of Public Service.
His retirement from military service therefore does not mark an end to his public role.
Forty-seven years in uniform represents an extraordinary length of military service.
Katumba’s farewell offered him an opportunity to look back at a career that included both professional achievements and deeply personal losses.
His reflections also revealed how he views the dangers he faced throughout his career.
For Katumba, surviving battlefield ambushes and military operations made the circumstances of the 2021 attack particularly difficult to process.
Yet his final message was centered less on the dangers he endured and more on gratitude for the opportunity to serve.
He thanked God, his fellow soldiers, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and Ugandans for allowing him to dedicate much of his life to the country.
For Katumba, retirement is not simply the end of a military posting.
It represents the closing of a chapter that began when he entered uniform in 1979 and continued for 47 years.
His farewell remarks carried both pride and reflection, particularly when he remembered the people and experiences that shaped his journey.
Despite the wars, ambushes and personal tragedy, he described his years of service as a privilege.
In his words, the uniform may now be behind him, but his connection to Uganda remains.
Katumba completed his 47 years of military service on July 31, 2026, closing a career he says was defined by dedication, commitment and love for Uganda.
“Forty-seven years in uniform. Forty-seven years of service to Uganda,” he said. “A lifetime in service. A country forever in my heart.”