Obote buried

Oct 24, 2005

Vice-President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya was yesterday blocked from burying former president Milton Obote at Abeibuti village in Akokoro in Apac district.

By Vision Reporters

Vice-President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya was yesterday blocked from burying former president Milton Obote at Abeibuti village in Akokoro in Apac district.

After the funeral service at which Bukenya read President Yoweri Museveni’s speech, and after other speeches by delegations from Rwanda and Kenya, the master of ceremonies read names of individuals to proceed to the graveyard.

Obote, 81, who died 15 days ago in a South African hospital, ruled Uganda from 1962 as prime minister, becoming president in 1966. He was ousted by Idi Amin in 1971. He returned from exile in Tanzania and ruled Uganda from 1980 to 1985 when he was again ousted by the army.

After the funeral service, Bukenya’s name was not mentioned. Neither were those of ministers Ruhakana Rugunda (internal affairs) and Betty Akech (state for security), Kenya’s minister of planning and economic development, Prof. Onyang Nyongo and Raila Odinga read.

Parliament Speaker Edward Ssekandi and former president Godfrey Binaisa were also not invited.

However, Obote’s relative, tourism minister Jovino Akaki Ayumu, who is also the area MP, joined the family in the burial ceremonies.

Bukenya left moments after delivering Museveni’s speech. He complained to Aggrey Awori (Samia Bugwe North), one of the organisers, about being blocked from the graveside.

“Awori, what are you planning to do there (at the graveyard)? Are you bringing in some Samia things?” he asked. Awori said, “Your Excellency, it is just a ritual we have to perform at the grave.”

Adoko Nekyon, the head of Obote’s clan, told mourners in Lira on Sunday that Obote’s wish was to be buried in private.

About 30 people invited to bury Obote included clan chiefs, Obote’s brother Obadiah Akaki, wife Miria, his four sons and a friend Winfred Mwendwa (Kenyan minister) and Miria’s family. The press were barred from the burial except Daily Monitor’s Andrew Mwenda.

By press time, policemen dressed in ceremonial uniform remained on stand-by to perform the official rituals befitting a former head of state. Government announced last week that Obote would be accorded a full state burial. They had also been blocked from going to the graveside where they were to fire a 21-gun salute for Obote.

The huge crowds kept chanting UPC songs and slogans.

Binaisa said he had no regrets about the events that led to the abrogation of the Constitution in 1966. He said neither he nor Obote forced parliament to take the Constitution. He said he was simply doing his job as attorney general.

Museveni said it was time for reconciliation. “It is only through frank dialogue that the Government is and will always be ready to seek reconciliation,” he said.

He said he was making arrangements for displaced people in Lango to return home to cultivate.

He said, “I have ordered the Police to recruit 4,000 vigilantes to form the anti-stock theft unit.”

He said the 4,000 youth, who flushed out rebels from Lango, would be recruited into the army.
Complied by Ali Mao, Walter Akwat, Nathan Etengu and
A.G. Musamali

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