Uganda's minister of Internal Affairs General Aronda Nyakairima has died of a heart attack, according to government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo.

General was in transit in Dubai (UAE) from South Korea on his way back to Uganda. He reportedly complained of stomach pain before he collapsed at night.

In his tweet, Opondo said Aronda had died of a heart attack and that his body is still in Dubai.

"We regret to announce the death of Gen Aronda Nyakairima who’s been Minister-Internal Affairs. Details to follow,” tweeted the Ministry.

Unverified reports indicate that Gen. Aronda Nyakairima died on the plane last night while returning from Korea. He reportedly developed a yet to be determined ailment on the plane.

Who is Aronda?

The 66 year old UPDF has been serving in the Cabinet of Uganda as Minister of Internal Affairs since 2013.

Previously he was Chief of Defense Forces, the highest military rank in the Uganda People’s Defense Force, from 2003 to 2013.

Nyakairima was born in Rukungiri District. He attended Kitgum High School in Kitgum District.

He joined Makerere University in 1978, graduating in 1981, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in political science.

He attended the Basic Officers Course in 1989, after the NRA had captured power in Kampala, Uganda’s capital city. He later attended a course in Strategic Studies at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, USA. He also has further military qualifications from the Egyptian Military Academy in Cairo.

Military career

He joined the National Resistance Army in 1982, soon after leaving Makerere. After the NRA captured power, he worked as an intelligence officer in the Ugandan military.

He later was appointed Assistant Director in the Directorate of Military Intelligence in the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF).

He was then transferred to the Presidential Protection Unit as an Intelligence Officer.

From there, he served as the Commanding Officer of the Armored Brigade before his appointment as Commander of the UPDF in 2003. He has represented the UPDF in the Ugandan Parliament since 1996.