Milton Obote and Idi Amin deserve some credit
EDITOR: The New Vision editorial of February 7 and Karooro Okurut's earlier article seem to distort what Kizza Besigye and Jaberi Bidandi Ssali said about the two former presidents of Uganda, Idi Amin and Milton Obote.
EDITOR: The New Vision editorial of February 7 and Karooro Okurut's earlier article seem to distort what Kizza Besigye and Jaberi Bidandi Ssali said about the two former presidents of Uganda, Idi Amin and Milton Obote.
Both New Vision and Karooro delved so much into the killings orchestrated by the regimes of the two presidents. No one, in their right minds, can deny that there were massive human rights violations during these regimes.
But this should not be construed to mean that there were no achievements at all during this time. Besigye mentioned the construction of the Nile Conference Centre (now Serena Hotel), Muni Girls’ School and army barracks.
Aren't those achievements worth mentioning? Milton Obote died a poor man, meaning he never accumulated any illicit wealth during his time as president which is rare for African presidents.
On the other hand President Yoweri Museveni’s government has been characterised by corruption never experienced before in the history of independent Uganda. Human rights violations should not only be looked at in terms of killings. Where credit is due, it should be acknowledged.
Farouk Nyende
nyendy@gmail.com
Both New Vision and Karooro delved so much into the killings orchestrated by the regimes of the two presidents. No one, in their right minds, can deny that there were massive human rights violations during these regimes.
But this should not be construed to mean that there were no achievements at all during this time. Besigye mentioned the construction of the Nile Conference Centre (now Serena Hotel), Muni Girls’ School and army barracks.
Aren't those achievements worth mentioning? Milton Obote died a poor man, meaning he never accumulated any illicit wealth during his time as president which is rare for African presidents.
On the other hand President Yoweri Museveni’s government has been characterised by corruption never experienced before in the history of independent Uganda. Human rights violations should not only be looked at in terms of killings. Where credit is due, it should be acknowledged.
Farouk Nyende
nyendy@gmail.com