President Yoweri Museveni confirmed that Tumwine passed away on Thursday, August 25. Museveni made the announcement after consoling the deceased's widow. 

"With deep sorrow, I announce the death of General Elly Tumwine which occurred at 5:46 am this morning in Nairobi, from lung cancer," Museveni stated. 

The late four-star general was airlifted to Nairobi for specialised treatment on Tuesday, August 9. His situation worsened a few days later and on Sunday, August 14, he was reported to have been fighting for his life. 

The late General Elly Tumwine in military attire  TWITTER

The late who served as a commander of the National Resistance Army (NRA) from 1984 to 1987 was also Museveni's student when the head of state taught at Burunga Primary School in 1967. 

Museveni eulogised Tumwine as a dedicated and hard-working cadre in the government.

"Condolences to his family, to the NRA-UPDF- NRM fraternity, and to all Ugandans. May his soul rest in eternal peace," Museveni mourned. 

Tumwine was a pillar in the 1986 bush war that saw the National Resistance Movement rise to power.

In the Cabinet, he served as Minister of State for Defence in 1989 and in 1994 was appointed Director General of the External Security Organization (ESO).

Notably, in 1996, Museveni appointed him as his Presidential Adviser, a position he held from 1996 to 1998.

In July 2022, the late retired from active military service in the general rank. 

Conclusively, his health was a topic of discussion in Uganda that year following speculations that he had passed away. Tumwine dismissed the claims as misleading and urged the public to refrain from sharing fake news.

The late General Elly Tumwine in military attire  TWITTER