By our reporter
Gen. Kale Kayihura’s letter he wrote to a one Jane back in 1985 while still in bush has leaked.
Kayihura joined Yoweri Museveni’s National Resistance Army(NRA) in 1982 in an armed struggle to oust the then president of Uganda Apollo Milton Obote.
During the struggle, Kayihura wrote a letter to Jane informing her about how far they had gone with the liberation war among others.
Kale’s Letter to Jane
Jane,
I was pleasantly surprised to hear from you. It’s always nice to know that someone somewhere is thinking of you. Well, we are fine here now that [illegible] in Masaka surrendered. But, of course, this does not mean that we are any less busy.
In fact, the more our war develops, of course for the better, the more we realize what a monumental job lies ahead.
The consolation is that every step marks success and so one proceeds ahead even more forcefully.
There was nothing eventful on our journey back this way. We reached safely.
My disappointment was failure to have enough opportunity to get to know you. There is always the hope, however, that we shall meet again in better circumstances.
Do not allow yourself to be bored, Jane, as there is a lot do, particularly now. It’s just that you limit your scope. Get involved actively in what is going.
Participate in seminars that I believe are being organised there by our people. It will help you to understand what the problems of Uganda are and will give you an opportunity to participate in a process of seeking their resolution.
I can assure you, Jane, there is nothing as fulfilling as being involved in a struggle such as this that is essentially geared towards liberation of society.
You see what we are [repetition] involved in is politics but with [a difference].
OURS is not party politics, politics of cliques, sectarian politics of demagogy, of lies and intrigue pretending to be serving the people.
OURS is politics that mobilises a whole people, that involves the whole people, nationalist politics, politics of unity, honest politics, principled politics.
I am telling you all this because it is important that you understand our struggle and be involved in it actively rather [than] remaining at a distance giving yourself [the role] of just cheering after the fact.
There is a lot of work that you can be involved in. So, therefore, you should not be bored. If there are any points that you need clarified do not be shy to ask, At least you can ask me.
I can even arrange for you to attend our school of political education, if you want, and , of course you should. I’m not unaware of your [search] for a career.
But then most of us who found ourselves in the bush actually had careers. So really, the issue now, is not careers.
IT is creating an atmosphere in which you can peacefully do what ever you can in peace and freedom so long as it does not go against the interests of the majority.
So it is important that you have a proper sense [of] priorities otherwise you make secondary things primary and primary t[hing]s secondary just like most of our people actually do.
I will stop here for now lest I bore you. Write to me as often as you can. Tell Connie [to] write, too. Greet all the friends there I will expect your reply soon.
By the way, about your friend, he was involved in attacking us at [Illegible]gs. he narrowly escaped being caught by our forces somewhere in the Mpigi areas.
[He] spent some day in hiding in some forest before he was rescued. If h[e does] not learn the easy way, well he will have to learn the hard way.
So long, Jane, I can not say when I can come that way. You will see me.
Am,
Kale
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