Eighteen years down the road, some of the survivors of the Kichwamba massacre have never forgiven Sheik Maj. Mohammed Kiggundu and his fellow Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels.
Commanded by Maj. Kiggundu among others, on June 8, 1998, Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels made their deadliest attack on Uganda Technical College Kichwamba located 14 kms on the Fort Portal-Bundibugyo Road and burnt 80 students to death in three dormitories. The rebels also abducted more than 100 students some of whose whereabouts are still unknown up to today.
REVEALED: Identities of alleged Maj. Kiggundu killers out
Fast-forward to 2016, residents in Tooro kingdom today rejoiced to the news that gunmen have shot dead Sheik Maj. Kiggundu at Masanafu, a Kampala suburb.
“As the victims of Kiggundu and ADF killings we feel justice has finally come,” a family member to a former student of Kichwamba, Joseph Akiiki Kasangaki said.
“That man (Maj. Kiggundu) with Jamilu Mukulu and Henry Matovu Cobra masterminded the barbaric attack in which so many of our people were burnt alive in their dormitory.Tooro and Uganda as a whole has never forgiven them,” he continued. “Like the bible says, whoever kills by the sword will die by the sword.”
At about mid day, a crowd of young men charged through the UTC Kichwamba compound cheering, the Ugandan flag raised above their heads rippling in the wind. They waved sticks and pieces of timber.
“We are so happy, we are so happy, this is a huge victory!” said one student. “We thank whoever shot that man (Kiggundu), we ask that justice be upheld, we’re asking for the death penalty to other animals like Jamilu Mukulu.”
Major Kiggundu, the husband of Sylvia Namutebi aka Maama Fiina, the leader of traditional herbalists in Uganda, was one of the former ADF rebels who were granted pardon by government with the late Hassan Kirya, Sheikh Yunus Kamoga the Tabliqs leader who is in prison now among others.
ADF, right from inception was a group of experienced extremist killers organised in command structure ready for rebellion.
In mid-1995 the Salaf Foundation set up a National Executive which was to be assisted by various district coordinators.
Sheik Kiggundu on his part being based at Mengo, Kampala carried out recruitment exercise of youth from various parts of the country hitting a number of 1,350 recruits.
Almost a decade ago, the deceased former rebel was integrated into the UPDF and promoted to the rank of Major in December 2007. He has been a preacher of Islam on Pearl FM, a Kampala-based radio.
The ex-rebel and other Tabliqs got conflicts and a group of sheikhs including Hassan Kirya, Haruna Jemba, Major Kiggundu , Sheikh Mustapha Bahiga and others all took refuge at Kibuli under Prince Kassim Nakibinge, defying sheikh Kamoga’s leadership as the Amirul Ummah and that is when shooting of Muslim sheikhs intensified.
By Shafik Himbaza
