Retired Maj Gen Elly Kayanja has urged Ugandans to embrace integrity, discipline and unity as the foundation of lasting national stability, saying his four decades in the military taught him that a country is built ‘not by force, but by character.’
Speaking in Kampala at the launch of his memoir, The Journey to Remember, the former intelligence man traced his trajectory from a young rebel fighter in the early 1980s to a senior commander involved in Uganda’s security reforms.
He described his life story as one shaped by sacrifice, courage and an enduring belief that Uganda could rise above political turmoil.
Kayanja joined the armed struggle in 1981, at a time when the country was grappling with widespread insecurity.
The Bush-War years, he said, were among the most defining moments of his life-marked by uncertainty, fear and an unwavering sense of duty.
‘We were young, we were unsure, but we believed in building a different Uganda. Those years taught us that progress is paid for with discipline and endurance,’ he said.
As he climbed the ranks in the 1990s and 2000s, Kayanja took on strategic roles in intelligence and military reform.
Colleagues, he noted, often viewed him as a quiet planner who prioritized service above authority.
‘Leadership is not about shouting orders. It is about listening, planning and doing what is right even when it is uncomfortable,’ he said.
Kayanja credited Uganda’s gains in stability to long-term efforts to professionalize the security sector and strengthen public confidence in state institutions.
‘Security is not just the silence of guns. Instead it is the presence of strong institutions and responsible leadership,’ he said.
The retired commander also spoke with emotion about the cost of Uganda’s past conflicts, recalling comrades who died in battle and the personal toll of surviving life-threatening encounters.
‘I lost friends who were like brothers. They are the true authors of Uganda’s peace. Their sacrifice must guide the next generation,’ he said.
Now transitioning into civilian life as an author and mentor, Kayanja urged young Ugandans to build a future anchored in honesty and compassion rather than opportunism.
‘The Uganda we want will be built by people who value honesty and compassion. Dishonesty is what destroys nations,’ he said.
He also called for careful preservation of Uganda’s historical memory, warning that the country risks repeating mistakes if its story is distorted or forgotten.
‘We cannot build tomorrow if we forget yesterday. Our story must be told with honesty – the victories and the struggles,’ he said.
The Bush War enabled veteran President Museveni to capture power in 1986.