The highest ranking female officer in the history of UPDF, Major General Proscovia Nalweyiso’s rise is not surprising. She has been promoted from brigadier to Major General by the Commander-in-chief, Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Having joined the army in 1982, she played crucial role in the early days of the NRA as the first commandant of the female wing and she continues to be a “woman-of-many-firsts.”
Born in June 1954 in Mpigi, fate led the young Proscovia to join the bush war struggle. In her early twenties, she had started working as a junior teacher and a typist at a church near Gombe, Mpigi district. She then joined the Democratic party and served as the sub-county secretary, a position which brought her in tune with the troubled political conditions of the time.
When UPC bounced back to power after former two-time president Milton Obote allegedly rigged the elections, DP supporter Proscovia could not help it. Then the period of persecution of DP members by UPC strengthened her resolve to pick arms and fight for what she believed in. She witnessed countless deaths and murders which drained every drop of fear in her blood. She joined the NRA armed rebellion in 1982 with a firm resolve to fight for her country.
But life in the bush was no joke. According to an interview with the New Vision, while in the bush, the conditions were so hard that even the periods stopped coming.
“We ( women ) are supposed to go into our menstruation periods; however, at times we failed to get real pads to use in the bush. With time, even the periods stopped coming because of the conditions”, she narrated.
While in the bush, she was no ordinary woman. Her strength and resolve was recognised by the top leaders. In 1983, a new unit, the Women’s wing was carved out of the NRA and she was named as its first commandant.
In 1984, most of the women were ordered by the NRA high command to move to western Uganda from their base in Luweero. Although the overall commander of this expedition was the late Maj. Gen.l Fred Rwigyema and the late Brig. Chefe Ali, Nalweyiso played a big role, since she was in command of the women. By 1985, they had successfully set up the western front and ready to engage in battles.They were moved back to Fort-Portal and that is where they stayed until the NRA captured power in 1986.
When the NRA captured power, Nalweyiso was given the rank of Captain and deployed as Commandant of the Women’s Wing in the Army. She was soon promoted to Major and Lt. Colonel by the turn of the year 2000. She has been based at State House as a Senior Advisor on Defense issues and according to sources, one of the most trusted by the President because of her resoluteness, something she has had since her youthful days.
She was married to an army officer in 1974, while still a civilian, but separated with her husband. The mother of four readily recommends other women to join the army. She says the army is now devoid of sexual harassment and promotion opportunities are open to all. She is a living proof of this!
