Gen Pecos Kuteesa’s body has arrived in Uganda

Gen Pecos Kuteesa’s body has arrived in Uganda. The body of Late Lt Gen Pecos Kuteesa arrived today from India. The remains of the gallant son of Uganda were received at Entebbe International Airport by Lt Gen James Mugira and Maj Gen Leopold Kyanda among other UPDF Generals (http://www.defence.go.ug/) and family members. MHSRIEP.

Who is the Late Lt Gen Pecos Kuteesa?

Lt. General Onesmus Kutesa popularly known as Pecos O Kutesa loved reading novels and watching films. Watching films particularly earned him a nickname that remained part of his name until his death in retirement. 

Pecos Kutesa was born in 1956. Both of his parents were deeply religious having been the first born-again (balokole) Christians in Kabula or present-day Lyantonde district. He was the first of the two children of that couple.  “I started learning the bible before I joined primary one. Because my father was blind, I would read it for him. He also taught me how to use the brail.” Kutesa narrated early in 2018.  

By the time of his death, Pecos Kutesa held a Social Sciences degree from Makerere University, a Masters degree from Uganda Management Institute, and certificates in military training in Tanzania and Ghana among others. Both degrees were obtained after the war in Luwero. 

Sometime in the ’70s, Kutesa fell in love with a film titled “My Name is Pecos” It was released acted by Pecos Martinez or Robert Woods in 1967. At the time, he was undergoing secondary education in Masaka.

“I was nicknamed Pecos while in Secondary School because like Pecos in the film, I was good at boxing. So I have had that name right from school and I used it in Luwero.” Kutesa once narrated. 

In “My Name is Pecos” film, the actor set out to settle a long-standing score against the racist boss who wiped out his entire family. Kutesa had watched similar injustices especially the 1966 crisis so he like Pecos Martinez set out to fight the injustice by joining the army. 

He joined Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF) in 1975 until 1979 when the late President Iddi Amin was toppled. He deserted the UNLF to join the NRA rebel ranks. 

“I never belonged to the UNLF mentally. I was a trained soldier. Luckily when I joined they were planning to attack Kakiri. And I was immediately selected to be the leader of the section” Kutesa in an interview from URN archives. 

Asked about what memory he had for the Matuga-Kapeka road, he cited ambushes and landmines. 

Some have suggested that Pecos Kutesa was very close to the then NRA rebel leader, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni during the Luwero triangle struggle. Kutesa was indeed Museveni’s interpreter during the war because he knew Luganda and English. He with another dead fighter then known as suicide or Emilio Katungi were always with Museveni. 

When the NRA took power in 1986, it is said that the brave Pecos Kutesa was among some of the commanders that continued with the fight towards Eastern Uganda.

Mourning his fallen colleague, Brigadier General Felix Kulayigye described Lt. General Pecos Kutesa as a brave soldier. 

“He was very a smart soldier and very brave in all operations. He was also an ardent reader of books regardless of the title and how big it was” said Kulayigye 

Kutesa was one of the makers of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda. He represented Kabura.

Some sources that worked with General Kutesa indicated that unlike other public servants at the managerial level, he was incorruptible.  

Perhaps driven by his personal philosophy about life and wealth. Pecos said that “Baganda say that what ripens quickly gets rotten fast. I have seen people amass a lot of wealth. But you find them empty-handed during the evening of their lives.”