The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has paid glowing tribute to the late Brig Gen (Rtd) Ali Nasuru Izaga, describing him as a distinguished officer whose service was central to the restoration of peace and stability in Uganda, particularly in the West Nile region.
Gen Kainerugaba’s message was delivered by Maj Gen Dick Olum, the chairman of the Security Supervisory Mechanism in South Sudan, during the burial ceremony held in Jabala Village, Gojuru Parish, Kuru Sub-county, Aringa County in Yumbe District.
He said the UPDF and the country had lost a patriotic officer whose legacy would be remembered for generations.
“We join the family, relatives and friends at this difficult moment to mourn a comrade whom we shall always remember,” Gen Kainerugaba conveyed, noting that Brig Izaga’s discipline, dedication and resilience earned him admiration across the ranks, from senior commanders to junior officers.
Brig Gen (Rtd) Ali Nasuru Izaga joined the Uganda Army on January 1, 1961, and served in various command and staff capacities throughout a career that spanned decades of turbulence and transition.
Beyond his military exploits, he is remembered for his humility, kindness and generosity, qualities that endeared him to communities and helped nurture a generation of peace-builders in the region.
Speaking on behalf of the family, his son, Apangu Ali, expressed gratitude to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF, Gen (Rtd) Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, and to Gen Kainerugaba for the support accorded to the late officer during his service and to the family after his passing.
Representing friends of the family, former Inspector General of Police Gen (Rtd) Kale Kayihura hailed the late Brig Izaga as a principled man whose contribution to the West Nile region and the country would endure.
He noted that the retired officer mentored many young people, several of whom have since taken up leadership roles in and outside the armed forces.
The burial attracted UPDF generals, senior officers, Members of Parliament, clergy, political leaders, cultural leaders and hundreds of mourners who turned up to honour the life and legacy of a man widely regarded as one of West Nile’s most respected elder statesmen.
