Brig. Geoffrey ‘Taban’ Kyabihende, longtime bodyguard of President Yoweri Museveni and Uganda’s Defence Attaché in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo , died in Kampala on Monday. He was 56.
Brig. Taban who was among General Museveni’s first 7 bodyguards died of cancer at Naksero Hospital, his family told TheUgandan this afternoon.
He was the Deputy Commander of the 3rd Battalion that captured Kampala in 1986 during the guerrilla war waged from 1981 in Uganda by the National Resistance Army under the leadership of Yoweri Museveni against the government of Milton Obote, and later that of Tito Okello.
“Very sad to hear the passing of our comrade Brig. Taban Kyabihende, we shall miss his dedication and energy. May he rest in peace,” Special Presidential Advisor Major General Muhoozi Kainerugaba eulogized the fallen army man who is among the first 100 NRA soldiers. He joined NRA relatively at the same time with FDC’s Rt. Col. Kizza whose number is RO/00098.
“He has left us and for burial arrangements the family and the army leadership is going to make arrangements and issue a statement,” army spokesman Brig. Richard Karemire said.
He will be buried this week in Kazo, western Uganda.