Senior National Resistance Movement figure Capt. Mike Mukula has paid a courtesy visit to retired Colonel William Omaria, who is currently receiving treatment at Ruby’s Hospital in Kampala, describing the encounter as a “deeply humbling moment” with one of Uganda’s prominent military and political figures.
According to Mukula, Col. Omaria is recovering steadily and was in good spirits during the visit.
He noted that the retired officer remains mentally sharp and appreciative of those who have stood by him during his illness.
Col. Omaria is widely recognised in Uganda’s historical and political circles for his role in the country’s liberation struggle and subsequent public service.
He was among the early East African graduates of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, a milestone that positioned him among a select group of professionally trained military officers in the region.
During his career, he served as Minister of Internal Affairs and represented Soroti County in Parliament. Mukula also highlighted his role as a fighter in the Kikosi Maalum group, which collaborated with the Tanzania People’s Defence Force in the 1979 liberation war that led to the fall of Idi Amin.
The Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF) remains a key part of that historical intervention, which reshaped Uganda’s political trajectory.
Kikosi Maalum, alongside other exile groups, later formed part of the broader political transition under the Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF) government.
Mukula further noted that Col. Omaria is among the last surviving members of the Military Council under the UNLF administration, together with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, underscoring his place in Uganda’s post-liberation political history.
He conveyed Omaria’s gratitude and good wishes, saying the retired colonel expressed appreciation for the visit and requested that his warm regards be passed on to President Museveni and his family.
Mukula concluded by wishing Col. Omaria a speedy recovery, describing him as a “patriot whose service and sacrifice remain part of Uganda’s national story.”