Obote could not just sit and watch
Apr 14, 2005
SIR — I wish to comment about the return of former Ugandan president, Dr. Milton Obote. The government of Uganda says that he might be prosecuted for the Luweero massacres during his administration.
SIR — I wish to comment about the return of former Ugandan president, Dr. Milton Obote. The government of Uganda says that he might be prosecuted for the Luweero massacres during his administration. As a citizen of Uganda and a servant of God, I feel that this is the time when church leaders should preach the Gospel beyond the pulpit. I support the current government, love and recognise all its contributions towards the development of the country in different fields but I have the following to say in reference to the trial awaiting Obote if he comes back:
If the government can forgive former rebel commanders like Sam Kolo and Kenneth Banya, considering the number of lives lost under their command and allow them to live freely in Uganda I plead that the same be extended to Obote who is now ageing in exile.
I still compare the Luwero massacres with the Kony war in the north. To me those people died in the same way as when the UPDF is chasing rebels in the north. Obote as the then president could not have remained silent about the war in Luweero and let the Government soldiers remain in the barracks.
President Museveni while in Kasese during the ADF insurgency a few days after Kasese town was burnt down, said that in such situations, it gets hard to fight the enemy. He said in Runyankore, “Torikubasa kwita enjoka yaba ebyamire omumahuri haza amahuri gakaremwa kwatika’ This That means that once an enemy is in the community, chasing him out may even cause the loss of innocent lives. If that is true of this government, it was also true of Obote’s. No man can be perfect and it would be better to let bygones be bygones.
Nassan Ibrahim
Bishop of Grace Cathedral, Kasese
If the government can forgive former rebel commanders like Sam Kolo and Kenneth Banya, considering the number of lives lost under their command and allow them to live freely in Uganda I plead that the same be extended to Obote who is now ageing in exile.
I still compare the Luwero massacres with the Kony war in the north. To me those people died in the same way as when the UPDF is chasing rebels in the north. Obote as the then president could not have remained silent about the war in Luweero and let the Government soldiers remain in the barracks.
President Museveni while in Kasese during the ADF insurgency a few days after Kasese town was burnt down, said that in such situations, it gets hard to fight the enemy. He said in Runyankore, “Torikubasa kwita enjoka yaba ebyamire omumahuri haza amahuri gakaremwa kwatika’ This That means that once an enemy is in the community, chasing him out may even cause the loss of innocent lives. If that is true of this government, it was also true of Obote’s. No man can be perfect and it would be better to let bygones be bygones.
Nassan Ibrahim
Bishop of Grace Cathedral, Kasese