It is quite proper to remember Idi Amin’s downfall

The Other SIDE OF THE COIN with Paul Waibale SeniorOn April 11, 2002, celebrations were held in Kampala to mark the 23rd anniversary of the ejection of dictator Idi Amin Dada from power in Uganda. Interestingly, some voices of descent emerged, expressing in the unsavoury “holier than thou” style, the dubious concepts that celebration of Idi Amin’s downfall is a reckless waste of public funds. The argument advanced is that funds “wasted” on commemorating Amin’s disgraceful departure effected by Ugandan exiles with the help of Tanzanian troops (or is it the other way round?) should have been diverted to social services, such as building schools and hospitals, or repairing roads.One could easily trace the spirit of Judas Isikariot in that conspicuously hypocritical submission. But for those who might not be conversant with Biblical scriptures, let me recall the relevant scene from which my conclusion emanates. Jesus was with his disciples when a woman brought a bottle of precious oil and used it to anoint his feet. The woman’s gesture was vigorously opposed by Judas who claimed that the oil she had “wasted” would have been put to better use had it been sold and the proceeds used to feed the poor. But Jesus supported the woman’s action and observed that what she had done would be mentioned wherever the gospel was to be preached. Incidentally, Judas’ objection was not motivated by any love for the poor. It was based on his selfish lust for the money that would have accrued from the sale of the precious oil and end up in the group’s coffers which he controlled as the treasurer. It is against that backdrop that I find the money wastage theory most unimpressive. Then there is the equally untenable argument that since Idi Amin was responsible for so much havoc, there is neither need nor purpose to commemorate his downfall. He should be, so it is submitted, allowed to fade away into oblivion rather than re-open the healed wounds he so brutally inflicted on the majority of Ugandans. In my opinion, not only happy events deserve commemoration. If that were so nobody would be bothered about Hitler or the Second World War. Similarly, Christians would never celebrate Good Friday, the day on which Jesus Christ was subjected to a painful and humiliating execution on the cross. It would be sufficient to celebrate Easter Sunday when Jesus conquered the forces of evil by rising from the dead.If Amin’s dictatorial regime was a concentration of evil (as most broad-minded Ugndans believe) then its extinction was a glorious accomplishment. Thus, even if we were (God forbid) to accept the erroneous view that only happy events or good things should be commemorated, the military toppling of Amin’s diabolical regime was a positive event which fits in the category of those that deserve commemoration. It is my humble submission that if any substantial sum of money was used to finance the April 11 celebrations, it was money well spent. And since the occasion coincided with the 80th anniversary of the birth of the great Pan-Africanist Mwalimu Julius Nyerere (RIP), the justification of the expenditure incurred is enhanced tenfold.Surprisingly, we still have people in Uganda who have the audacity to argue that the celebration of Amin’s downfall was misconceived because he did many good things for Uganda. The expulsion of Asians, including even Ugandan citizens and expropriation of their property is given as one of Amin’s achievements. But those of us who were around know that after the Asian exodus, sweet bananas and banana juice in old soda bottles were the major items on sale in shops along Kampala road! Those were the days when a cunning trader would print a couple of false wedding invitations to present as evidence to a minister to p rocure a mere 20 crates of soda. The trader would then sell off the soda to the highest bidder.In any case, I do not know any successful businessman in Uganda today who can directly link his success to Amin’s so-called “Economic War.” To all intents and purposes the “Economic War” turned out to be a war against Uganda’s economy. It was, to say the least, a white elephant.