Today in History: Major General James Kazini is Killed

What the report says

Nile Post reports that on November 10, 2009, Major General James Kazini died in Namuwongo, a Kampala suburb, after a domestic dispute with his partner, Lydia Draru. The article says he was struck on the head with an iron bar around 6 a.m., after which Draru alerted boda boda riders nearby and remained at the scene while authorities were contacted. Police arrested her, and the incident led to murder proceedings.

The publication places Kazini’s death in the wider context of a long and controversial military career. It says he rose from an enlisted soldier to senior ranks in the Uganda People’s Defence Force, including service as Army Commander from 2001 to 2003. Nile Post also notes his involvement in major operations against the Allied Democratic Forces and the Lord’s Resistance Army, as well as Uganda’s military role in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to the report, Kazini’s later years were marked by legal and disciplinary troubles. It cites his 2003 suspension over allegations tied to “ghost soldiers” on the payroll and a 2008 General Court Martial conviction for causing financial loss. The article presents his legacy as mixed: he was regarded by some as a significant battlefield commander, while controversies over corruption and wartime conduct remained central to how he was remembered.