Prominent Ugandan military veteran and liberation war hero Apollo Mabaati has died at Nakasero Hospital after a long battle with cancer, family sources and government officials have confirmed.
At the time of his death, the 71-year-old Mabaati was serving as Senior Presidential Advisor on Veteran Affairs, a role that capped a lifetime of service to Uganda’s military history and the welfare of retired soldiers.
Born on March 23, 1955, Mabaati’s journey into Uganda’s political and military landscape began at a young age. In 1975, driven by a desire to see a liberated nation, he left school to join the Front for National Salvation (FRONASA), a rebel movement led by President Yoweri Museveni that fought against the regime of Idi Amin.
During the liberation struggle, Mabaati served as a key communications link, coordinating intelligence and messages between fighters inside Uganda and those based in Tanzania.
Following the fall of Amin, he served as a Retired Staff Sergeant (UD: 1109) in the former Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA).
In his later years, Mabaati transitioned from military service to veteran advocacy, focusing on socio-economic transformation and the welfare of ex-servicemen. He served as National Chairperson of FRONASA Veterans and headed the FRONASA Desk at Operation Wealth Creation under the Office of the President.
Through these roles, he championed programmes aimed at improving the livelihoods of veterans and preserving the history of Uganda’s liberation struggle.
Tributes have begun pouring in from government officials, fellow veterans and residents of his home region, who described him as a steadfast patriot and a committed advocate for those who fought alongside him.
According to tentative burial arrangements, Mabaati will be laid to rest on Friday at his ancestral home in Kachumbiro Cell, Rushere Town Council, Kiruhura District.