Maj Gen Fred Gisa Rwigema, born Emmanuel Gisa, 10 April 1957 - 2 October 1990, was a Rwandan military officer and revolutionary, and one of the most important fighters in both Uganda and Rwanda. He is the man in the photo you just sent - sitting on the wooden stool in the bush in green uniform and beret. 1. Early life in exile: Born in Mukiranze village, Kamonyi District, former Gitarama, Rwanda. In 1960, aged 3, his family fled to Uganda after the 1959 Hutu Revolution and settled in Nshungerezi refugee camp in Ankole, Isingiro. He went to Mbarara High School where he became close friends with Salim Saleh. 2. How he got the name Rwigema: His real name was Emmanuel Gisa. In 1976, Kahinda Otafiire recruited him, Chefe Ali and Ivan Koreta from Mbarara High School into FRONASA, Museveni's rebel group. Museveni gave him the bush name Rwigema, after a brave Tutsi fighter called Gabriel Rwigyema who had fought with Che Guevara in Congo in the 1960s. The name stuck for life. 3. Fighter in Uganda: In 1976 he went to Tanzania and joined FRONASA, then trained in Mozambique with FRELIMO. In 1979 he joined UNLA that overthrew Idi Amin. In 1981 he was one of the original 27 armed fighters who attacked Kabamba Barracks and started the NRA Bush War. He was deputy commander of the First Mobile Force, the most elite unit, and later commander of the Western Axis in 1985. He was army number RO/015. After NRA took power in 1986, he became Deputy Minister of Defence, Deputy Army Commander, and MP. He was promoted to Major General on 6 February 1988. 4. Founder of RPF: In December 1987, he chaired the meeting in Kampala that turned RANU into the Rwandan Patriotic Front, RPF-Inkotanyi. Its mission was return of Rwandan refugees. On 1 October 1990, he led about 4,000 Rwandan exiles from Uganda into Rwanda at Kagitumba to start the liberation war against Juvenal Habyarimana. 5. Death: On 2 October 1990, on only the second day, he was killed on Matimba Hill / Nyabwenshogozi Hill, about 6 miles inside Rwanda. Official RPF history says enemy fire. Other accounts say sniper or internal dispute. His death was kept secret until November 1990 to avoid demoralising fighters. Paul Kagame took over command. Today in Rwanda he is classified as Imanzi - the supreme category of National Heroes, alongside only the Unknown Soldier. He is buried at Heroes Cemetery in Kigali. He married Janet Urujeni on 20 June 1987, they had two children, Junior Gisa and Teta Gisa. He is remembered as the man who liberated Uganda, then died trying to liberate Rwanda before reaching Kigali. #UgHistory #Africanhistory #Foryou #militaryhistory #NRA - @theugandareport