Order of Katonga explained

Order of Katonga
Presenter:Uganda
Type:Single grade Order
Awarded For:'extraordinary heroism in the army'
Status:Currently constituted
Firstawarded:2004
Total Awarded:2
Total Awarded Posthumously:1
Higher:None
Lower:Kabalega Star
Image2 Size:100px

The Order of Katonga (Swahili: Nishani ya Katonga) is the highest military decoration of the Ugandan Honours System. It is a very rare award that recognises its recipients for extraordinary heroism.[1]

History

The order is named after the final and decisive battle of the National Resistance Army during the Ugandan Bush War. It was fought near the Katonga River.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni decorated the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on 6 April 2004 in Tripoli, honouring him for his contribution to the National Resistance Army (NRA) bush struggle that liberated Uganda from dictatorship, adding that Colonel Gaddafi has always been at the forefront of the liberation of Africa and unification of the continent.[2]

Museveni also posthumously awarded former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere in July 2007 at his hometown of Butiama for his assistance in liberating Africa from colonialism in general and Uganda from Idi Amin's rule in particular via the Uganda–Tanzania War. His wife Maria received the award on his behalf.[3]

Recipients

Name Country Title
2nd Head of State of Libya
1st President of Tanzania

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Medals should be cherished . . 9 June 2013 . 13 October 2013.
  2. News: Museveni decorates Qaddaffi. Grace Naisamura. Mail-archive.com. 22 May 2004. 16 June 2013.
  3. News: Museveni honours Nyerere . . 10 July 2007 . 13 October 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141205155035/http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/575303 . 5 December 2014 .