Fred Rwigema
Encyclopedia
Fred Gisa Rwigema born Emmanuel Gisa (his name sometimes erroneously spelled as Rwigyema), was a founding member of and leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front
, an anti-Hutu Power
guerrilla group
that fought in the Rwandan Civil War
.
Rwigema was born in Gitarama, in the south of Rwanda. Considered a Tutsi
, in 1960 he and his family fled to Uganda
and settled in a refugee camp in Nshungerezi, Ankole following the so-called Hutu Revolution of 1959 and the ouster of King Kigeri V.
After finishing high school in 1976, he went to Tanzania and joined the Front for National Salvation
(FRONASA), a rebel group headed by Yoweri Museveni
, the brother of his friend Salim Saleh
. It was at this point that he began calling himself Fred Rwigema. Later that year, he travelled to Mozambique
and joined the FRELIMO rebels who were fighting for the liberation of Mozambique from Portugal's colonial power
In 1979, he joined the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA), which together with Tanzanian armed forces
captured Kampala
in April 1979 and sent Idi Amin
to exile.
He later joined Museveni's National Resistance Army
(NRA), which fought a guerrilla war against the government of Milton Obote
.
After the NRA captured state power in 1986, Rwigema became the deputy Minister of Defence. He was regularly at the front line in northern Uganda during the new government's offensives against remnants of the ousted regime.
On the third day of the 1990 RPF offensive into Rwanda, Rwigema was murdered by two of his subcommanders. He had called a staff conference with three close associates - Peter Bayingana, Chris Bunyenyezi and Stephen Ndugute. During it, a fierce argument over strategy developed. Rwigema wanted to advance slowly in order to politicize the Hutu peasantry and get them to join the RPF. Bayingana and Bunyenyezi wanted to seize power quickly, ignoring the Tutsi
-Hutu
identity split. Ndugute remained a silent bystander. The dispute grew heated and Bayingana drew his pistol and shot Rwigema in the head. In the resultant chaos, Ndugute escaped and returned to Uganda to inform President Yoweri Museveni
of the events. Museveni in turn sent his trusted brother and right-hand man Salim Saleh
to Rwanda, where he found Rwigema's body in a swamp, gave it a proper burial, arrested Bayingana and Bunyenyezi and brought them back to Uganda for interrogation and eventual execution.
Rwigema remained buried in Kagitumba until the war ended and his body was reburied in the Remera Heroes Cemetery.
Rwandan Patriotic Front
The Rwandan Patriotic Front abbreviated as RPF is the current ruling political party of Rwanda, led by President Paul Kagame. It governs in a coalition with other parties...
, an anti-Hutu Power
Hutu Power
Hutu Power was an ideology propounded by the Akazu and other Hutu extremists in Rwanda. It contributed to the Rwandan Genocide in 1994 against the Tutsi and moderate Hutu.-Background:...
guerrilla group
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
that fought in the Rwandan Civil War
Rwandan Civil War
The Rwandan Civil War was a conflict within the Central African nation of Rwanda between the government of President Juvénal Habyarimana and the rebel Rwandan Patriotic Front...
.
Rwigema was born in Gitarama, in the south of Rwanda. Considered a Tutsi
Tutsi
The Tutsi , or Abatutsi, are an ethnic group in Central Africa. Historically they were often referred to as the Watussi or Watusi. They are the second largest caste in Rwanda and Burundi, the other two being the Hutu and the Twa ....
, in 1960 he and his family fled to Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
and settled in a refugee camp in Nshungerezi, Ankole following the so-called Hutu Revolution of 1959 and the ouster of King Kigeri V.
After finishing high school in 1976, he went to Tanzania and joined the Front for National Salvation
Front for National Salvation
The Front for National Salvation was a Ugandan rebel group formed by Yoweri Museveni in 1972. Kikosi Maalum and FRONASA, as well as several smaller groups including Save Uganda Movement and Uganda Freedom Union, formed the Uganda National Liberation Front and its military wing the Uganda...
(FRONASA), a rebel group headed by Yoweri Museveni
Yoweri Museveni
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is a Ugandan politician and statesman. He has been President of Uganda since 26 January 1986.Museveni was involved in the war that deposed Idi Amin Dada, ending his rule in 1979, and in the rebellion that subsequently led to the demise of the Milton Obote regime in 1985...
, the brother of his friend Salim Saleh
Salim Saleh
General Salim Saleh , is an adviser to the President of Uganda on military matters. Formerly, he was the Ugandan Minister of State for Microfinance. Before that, he was a high ranking military official of UPDF, the armed forces of Uganda. He is a brother of the current President of Uganda, Yoweri...
. It was at this point that he began calling himself Fred Rwigema. Later that year, he travelled to Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
and joined the FRELIMO rebels who were fighting for the liberation of Mozambique from Portugal's colonial power
In 1979, he joined the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA), which together with Tanzanian armed forces
Tanzania People's Defence Force
The Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Force was set up in September 1964. From its inception, it was ingrained in the troops that they were a people’s force under civilian control. They were always reminded of their difference from the colonial armed forces...
captured Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
in April 1979 and sent Idi Amin
Idi Amin
Idi Amin Dada was a military leader and President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. Amin joined the British colonial regiment, the King's African Rifles in 1946. Eventually he held the rank of Major General in the post-colonial Ugandan Army and became its Commander before seizing power in the military...
to exile.
He later joined Museveni's National Resistance Army
National Resistance Army
The National Resistance Army , the military wing of the National Resistance Movement , was a rebel army that waged a guerrilla war, commonly referred to as the Luwero War or "the war in the bush", against the government of Milton Obote, and later that of Tito Okello.NRA was supported by Muammar...
(NRA), which fought a guerrilla war against the government of Milton Obote
Milton Obote
Apolo Milton Obote , Prime Minister of Uganda from 1962 to 1966 and President of Uganda from 1966 to 1971, then again from 1980 to 1985. He was a Ugandan political leader who led Uganda towards independence from the British colonial administration in 1962.He was overthrown by Idi Amin in 1971, but...
.
After the NRA captured state power in 1986, Rwigema became the deputy Minister of Defence. He was regularly at the front line in northern Uganda during the new government's offensives against remnants of the ousted regime.
On the third day of the 1990 RPF offensive into Rwanda, Rwigema was murdered by two of his subcommanders. He had called a staff conference with three close associates - Peter Bayingana, Chris Bunyenyezi and Stephen Ndugute. During it, a fierce argument over strategy developed. Rwigema wanted to advance slowly in order to politicize the Hutu peasantry and get them to join the RPF. Bayingana and Bunyenyezi wanted to seize power quickly, ignoring the Tutsi
Tutsi
The Tutsi , or Abatutsi, are an ethnic group in Central Africa. Historically they were often referred to as the Watussi or Watusi. They are the second largest caste in Rwanda and Burundi, the other two being the Hutu and the Twa ....
-Hutu
Hutu
The Hutu , or Abahutu, are a Central African people, living mainly in Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern DR Congo.-Population statistics:The Hutu are the largest of the three peoples in Burundi and Rwanda; according to the United States Central Intelligence Agency, 84% of Rwandans and 85% of Burundians...
identity split. Ndugute remained a silent bystander. The dispute grew heated and Bayingana drew his pistol and shot Rwigema in the head. In the resultant chaos, Ndugute escaped and returned to Uganda to inform President Yoweri Museveni
Yoweri Museveni
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is a Ugandan politician and statesman. He has been President of Uganda since 26 January 1986.Museveni was involved in the war that deposed Idi Amin Dada, ending his rule in 1979, and in the rebellion that subsequently led to the demise of the Milton Obote regime in 1985...
of the events. Museveni in turn sent his trusted brother and right-hand man Salim Saleh
Salim Saleh
General Salim Saleh , is an adviser to the President of Uganda on military matters. Formerly, he was the Ugandan Minister of State for Microfinance. Before that, he was a high ranking military official of UPDF, the armed forces of Uganda. He is a brother of the current President of Uganda, Yoweri...
to Rwanda, where he found Rwigema's body in a swamp, gave it a proper burial, arrested Bayingana and Bunyenyezi and brought them back to Uganda for interrogation and eventual execution.
Rwigema remained buried in Kagitumba until the war ended and his body was reburied in the Remera Heroes Cemetery.