The fall of Idi Amin regime and how I watched it

Ahmed Musaazi

On the evening Wednesday, April 11, 1979, as l was grazing cattle and goats at Kyengera now Nnambiriizi A, near the home of my paternal uncle, Prince Diriisa Jjuuko, who passed away two weeks ago, my adopted elder brother Asumani Ssali, came and broke the news to me that Kampala had fallen to Tanzanian forces.

I could not believe it as l believed Uganda Armed Forces was Africa's regional power.

We were at a stop over, on the way from Kasaana, about five miles, where we had stayed at the peak of the war in Mawogola sub district now Ssembabule district, back to Kisomesa hill now Nnambiriizi B, our home village.

The Uganda Army, under the late Brig. Rwehururu, who was second in command of Suicide Mechanised Recognisance Regiment Masaka, had fought bravely repulsing Tanzanian advances from Masaka and Mbiriizi via Bukomansimbi and Mateete respectively and l had thought that it was the same story elsewhere; it was not.

At that time, Brig. Bernard Rwehururu, then a major, had even recruited young men to reinforce the force, that were undergoing training at Kabamba, including my own relatives, when at the main front-line at Katonga, recruiting local population, as suggested by Lt.

Col. Kisuule, was discouraged because they belonged to a wrong tribe. They were witch-hunted by Tanzanians and UNLA soldiers and all joined NRA now UPDF.

By the time l reached at home of my grandfather, the late Prince Zuli Arabi Iddi Dungu Mukasa Kimera, a list of new UNFL ministers was being read on Radio Tanzania Dar Es Salaam as monitored in Uganda.

That marked the end of an era. Personally, l was pro Uganda, as any patriotic citizen. But my parents seemed pro Tanzania and Ugandan exiles probably due to the fact that Idi Amin had signed Land Reform Decree 1975, which attempted to abolish Mailo Land, non-Africa Muslim Community Juma Sect Bukoto Nateete Muslims had seized leadership of our local mosque at Nnambiriizi, some of them even listed the name of my father and grandfather as collaborators of Wakombozi though they denied it.

The honey moon was short lived as Yusuf Lule ruled for only 68 days and was replaced with Godfrey Lukongwa binaisa, who ruled for only 11 months and was replaced with Paulo Muwanga, who ruled for seven months until Obote was re-imposed to the people of Uganda by Paulo Muwanga's Military commission in order to appease the late Nyerere who wanted Obote's early exit from Tanzania.

It is now 38 years ever since Idi Amin regime fell. He later died in exile in Saudi Arabia. The lesson to learn is that we should be patriotic even if we disagree with those in power.

Tanzanians self-styled themselves as liberators but conquered us, occupied us and looted our country, imposing one leader after another which sparked the five year bush war spearheaded by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni that restored our sovereign dignity and territorial integrity.

Never to conspire with a foreign power and negative forces against our own country. But even our leaders should ensure that they do not lead us into temptation like past regimes did. Amen.