Mbeki, Kaunda, Chiluba send their condolences
Oct 12, 2005
PRESIDENT Thabo Mbeki of South Africa has praised former Uganda president Dr. Apollo Milton Obote for the role he played in leading Uganda to independence from British colonial rule.
By Olga Mwaba in Lusaka and Geresom Musamali
PRESIDENT Thabo Mbeki of South Africa has praised former Uganda president Dr. Apollo Milton Obote for the role he played in leading Uganda to independence from British colonial rule.
Former Zambian presidents Dr. Kenneth Kaunda and Frederick Chiluba also praised Obote for his role in Uganda and Africa as a whole.
A statement from the South African foreign ministry said Mbeki wished the family and all Ugandans in general to get over this moment of grief.
“Please accept the heartfelt condolences of the South African government and people to the government and people of Uganda following the death of a son of Africa,†said Mbeki.
“Former President Obote is remembered for the critical role he played in leading Uganda and its people to independence. The thoughts and prayers of the South African government and people go out to his family and the sister peoples of Uganda during this moment of grief,†he added.
Obote died in a South African hospital on Monday. Kaunda, the founder of the Zambian Republic, gave Obote asylum in 1985.
When Chiluba succeeded Kaunda in a 1991 election, the Government of Zambia assured Obote that he was welcome to stay and would remain as comfortable as when Kaunda was in power. Since Chiluba, Zambia has been ruled by Levy Mwanawasa. Kaunda said in an interview with The New Vision on Tuesday that Obote’s death was a great blow to Africa.
Chiluba said the loss of Obote was an extremely sad development.
“We were in politics together for some time. He did not falter on what he wanted to do for his country. It’s so sad to lose him,†said Kaunda.
The Mwanawasa government said it was consulting with Ugandan authorities on how to proceed with the funeral arrangements. “It’s not for us to decide,†said Home Affairs permanent secretary Peter Mumba. Mumba confirmed that the Government had been in touch with Obote’s family.
Obote’s youngest son said he was proud of his father’s legacy. Benjamin Brasil George Opedo, 28, said in an interview that his father “opened the door†to multiparty politics in Uganda. “I’m happy with what he fought to achieve,†Opedo said.
PRESIDENT Thabo Mbeki of South Africa has praised former Uganda president Dr. Apollo Milton Obote for the role he played in leading Uganda to independence from British colonial rule.
Former Zambian presidents Dr. Kenneth Kaunda and Frederick Chiluba also praised Obote for his role in Uganda and Africa as a whole.
A statement from the South African foreign ministry said Mbeki wished the family and all Ugandans in general to get over this moment of grief.
“Please accept the heartfelt condolences of the South African government and people to the government and people of Uganda following the death of a son of Africa,†said Mbeki.
“Former President Obote is remembered for the critical role he played in leading Uganda and its people to independence. The thoughts and prayers of the South African government and people go out to his family and the sister peoples of Uganda during this moment of grief,†he added.
Obote died in a South African hospital on Monday. Kaunda, the founder of the Zambian Republic, gave Obote asylum in 1985.
When Chiluba succeeded Kaunda in a 1991 election, the Government of Zambia assured Obote that he was welcome to stay and would remain as comfortable as when Kaunda was in power. Since Chiluba, Zambia has been ruled by Levy Mwanawasa. Kaunda said in an interview with The New Vision on Tuesday that Obote’s death was a great blow to Africa.
Chiluba said the loss of Obote was an extremely sad development.
“We were in politics together for some time. He did not falter on what he wanted to do for his country. It’s so sad to lose him,†said Kaunda.
The Mwanawasa government said it was consulting with Ugandan authorities on how to proceed with the funeral arrangements. “It’s not for us to decide,†said Home Affairs permanent secretary Peter Mumba. Mumba confirmed that the Government had been in touch with Obote’s family.
Obote’s youngest son said he was proud of his father’s legacy. Benjamin Brasil George Opedo, 28, said in an interview that his father “opened the door†to multiparty politics in Uganda. “I’m happy with what he fought to achieve,†Opedo said.