KAMPALA— Former Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officer Col. Samson Mande has opened up about his personal life during his years in exile, revealing that he returned to Uganda alone after his wife chose to remain on a separate path while they were living in Europe.
Mande, a former National Resistance Army (NRA) bush war commander who spent years in exile in Sweden after falling out with the government, said he left Uganda with a family but came back without his spouse.
“Before I left, I had a wife, and together we had children. But I returned alone. Europe is Europe. She chose her own path; it wasn’t my decision,” Mande said.
He explained that European societies operate differently regarding personal choices and relationships, adding that he accepted the situation and moved on.
“Over there, once a woman makes that decision, you have to accept it. I accepted it and came back single,” he said.
Mande’s remarks come months after his return to Uganda following more than two decades abroad. The former army officer was among the original NRA fighters who participated in the 1981–1986 guerrilla war that brought President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to power. He later became a critic of the government and lived in exile, first in Rwanda and later in Sweden.
His return was publicly welcomed by President Museveni during Uganda’s Independence Day celebrations in 2025, with the President describing it as part of reconciliation efforts.
Mande’s years abroad were marked by political disagreements with the government, including his criticism of Uganda’s governance and calls for political reforms. He had earlier said that his exile experience was difficult and expressed a desire to return home.
Since returning, Mande has spoken about his experiences in exile, reconciliation, and rebuilding his life after years away from Uganda.
His comments on his marriage highlight one of the personal challenges faced by many migrants and political exiles who spend long periods separated from their families while living abroad.
Mande has not publicly provided further details about his family circumstances, but said he has accepted the outcome and is focused on his life back in Uganda.
