Kampala, Uganda: Brigadier Eriya Mwine, widely remembered by his nom de guerre Chefe Ali, was one of the most disciplined and respected commanders of Uganda’s post-independence military history, whose legacy still echoes in the annals of the UPDF.
Born around 1955, Chefe Ali abandoned secondary education to join Yoweri Museveni’s Front for National Salvation (FRONASA), becoming part of the Western Front that toppled Idi Amin in 1979. His commitment and courage quickly earned him recognition as a trusted fighter.
During the 1981–1986 NRA Bush War, Chefe Ali commanded the 11th Battalion, spearheading the siege on the Simba Barracks in Mbarara in 1985.
Beyond his battlefield exploits, he inspired fighters with siasa (political education) and revolutionary songs that kept morale high during the struggle.
Following the NRA’s victory, Chefe Ali rose through the ranks, commanding key divisions, including the 2nd Division in Fort Portal and the 3rd Division in Mbale.
Chefe’s leadership of the 4th Division in Gulu placed him at the heart of counter-insurgency operations against Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in northern Uganda.
In 1996, he was appointed Acting Chief of Staff, replacing Brigadier Sam Nanyumba. His peers admired his incorruptibility, with Gen. Salim Saleh once remarking that Ali never took “a single shilling from the army except his entitlements.”
At the time of his death in July 1999 at just 44 years old, Chefe Ali was commanding operations in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where Uganda was deeply involved in regional interventions.
His military journey, marked by discipline, sacrifice, and integrity, cemented his place among Uganda’s most revered officers. Today, his name returns to the national conversation, following President Museveni’s claim that celebrated musician Eddy Kenzo is his son—linking Uganda’s cultural present to its revolutionary past.
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