Order of Katonga

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]

Order of Katonga
TypeSingle grade Order
Awarded for'extraordinary heroism in the army'
Presented byUganda
StatusCurrently constituted
First awarded2004
Total2
Total awarded posthumously1
Ribbon bar
Precedence
Next (higher)None
Next (lower)Kabalega Star

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 Gaddaffi 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
NameCountryTitle
Muammar Gaddafi Libya2nd Head of State of Libya
Julius Nyerere Tanzania1st President of Tanzania

References
  1. "Medals should be cherished". New Vision. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  2. Grace Naisamura (22 May 2004). "Museveni decorates Qaddaffi". Mail-archive.com. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  3. "Museveni honours Nyerere". New Vision. 10 July 2007. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
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