Garang death devastates Museveni
Aug 05, 2005
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has been devastated by the unexpected twist of fate that claimed his life-long comrade, Lt. Gen. Dr. John Garang de Mabior and 13 other people in Museveni’s presidential helicopter on Saturday.
By Alfred Wasike
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has been devastated by the unexpected twist of fate that claimed his life-long comrade, Lt. Gen. Dr. John Garang de Mabior and 13 other people in Museveni’s presidential helicopter on Saturday.
A sombre defence minister, Amama Mbabazi, revealed this on Thursday night in an interview with the BBC.
Mbabazi was responding to a question: “Since John Garang’s death, President Yoweri Museveni hasn’t appeared in public. How is he?â€
“Of course like some of us who had worked very closely with Dr. John Garang, he has been devastated by the death of this comrade of ours.
But he is holding out. He has been in very close contact with the SPLM and the Sudanese leadership. You couldn’t say he is too quiet because what else would he do? I mean this thing has happened. He couldn’t behave as if things are normal. Things are not normal. John Garang is dead,†Mbabazi said.
Lt. General Garang, 60, died hours after he and his entourage left Museveni’s ranch in Rwakitura, western Uganda, heading for his base, New Site, in southern Sudan. Museveni’s MI-172 helicopter was piloted by Col. Peter Nyakairu and Capt. Paul Kiyimba.
Garang had spent a night at Rwakitura with Museveni who yesterday travelled to Sudan for his burial, Mbabazi said in Jinja yesterday.
Asked whether Garang’s death might make “President Museveni think that it is a dangerous life as a leader in African politics†that could prompt him to “think about his future,†Mbabazi replied: “It is a dangerous life for any leader in the world. I mean the demand on the lives of leaders, on their time, on their energy, is incredible.
The majority of people don’t know this stress, the strain one undergoes, the amount of time one gives to duty. Yes, there are risks in being leaders, shuttling around; doing this and that, can take a big toll on one’s life. But that is the price of leadership.â€
On the state of the helicopter before the crash, Mbabazi said, “The helicopter was well-maintained. It had just returned from servicing from the manufacturers themselves. It had all the equipment that make a presidential helicopter safe.â€
He, however, said, “We don’t rule out any possibility. We would like to leave it open for full and thorough investigation.â€
Mbabazi said the US and other countries had been asked to help with the investigation.
Asked why the flight took place in the very bad weather in that area, in northern Uganda and southern Sudan, Mbabazi said the weather in Uganda was not bad.
“Maybe in the border area. The reports we have is that it was raining. But really I wouldn’t like to make any conclusions on this matter now,†he said.
On the violence that is threatening to derail the peace process in Sudan, Mbabazi said: “I think the violence is a spontaneous reaction by the people whose hopes and expectations have been shattered and I think that we can only give it time.
“I was incredibly impressed by the statement by the SPLM leadership, particularly by the widow, Rebecca Garang. I mean, it was surely statesman-like of her to call upon the people to accept that this thing has happened, they must move on, the struggle must continue, they must fight for the vision that Garang fought for.
“The more we have these calls from the leaders, the better. Our hope that it will cool down so that the people of Sudan can have peace and development, which was really the wish of John Garang.â€
Some 130 people have died in clashes following Garang’s death.
Museveni said last week that the plane was equipped to standard and that it could see obstacles 100km ahead. He described Garang as a freedom fighter and a true African nationalist. Garang has been succeeded by his long-time deputy Salva Kiir, in a move that has been praised as rare among rebel groups in Africa.
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has been devastated by the unexpected twist of fate that claimed his life-long comrade, Lt. Gen. Dr. John Garang de Mabior and 13 other people in Museveni’s presidential helicopter on Saturday.
A sombre defence minister, Amama Mbabazi, revealed this on Thursday night in an interview with the BBC.
Mbabazi was responding to a question: “Since John Garang’s death, President Yoweri Museveni hasn’t appeared in public. How is he?â€
“Of course like some of us who had worked very closely with Dr. John Garang, he has been devastated by the death of this comrade of ours.
But he is holding out. He has been in very close contact with the SPLM and the Sudanese leadership. You couldn’t say he is too quiet because what else would he do? I mean this thing has happened. He couldn’t behave as if things are normal. Things are not normal. John Garang is dead,†Mbabazi said.
Lt. General Garang, 60, died hours after he and his entourage left Museveni’s ranch in Rwakitura, western Uganda, heading for his base, New Site, in southern Sudan. Museveni’s MI-172 helicopter was piloted by Col. Peter Nyakairu and Capt. Paul Kiyimba.
Garang had spent a night at Rwakitura with Museveni who yesterday travelled to Sudan for his burial, Mbabazi said in Jinja yesterday.
Asked whether Garang’s death might make “President Museveni think that it is a dangerous life as a leader in African politics†that could prompt him to “think about his future,†Mbabazi replied: “It is a dangerous life for any leader in the world. I mean the demand on the lives of leaders, on their time, on their energy, is incredible.
The majority of people don’t know this stress, the strain one undergoes, the amount of time one gives to duty. Yes, there are risks in being leaders, shuttling around; doing this and that, can take a big toll on one’s life. But that is the price of leadership.â€
On the state of the helicopter before the crash, Mbabazi said, “The helicopter was well-maintained. It had just returned from servicing from the manufacturers themselves. It had all the equipment that make a presidential helicopter safe.â€
He, however, said, “We don’t rule out any possibility. We would like to leave it open for full and thorough investigation.â€
Mbabazi said the US and other countries had been asked to help with the investigation.
Asked why the flight took place in the very bad weather in that area, in northern Uganda and southern Sudan, Mbabazi said the weather in Uganda was not bad.
“Maybe in the border area. The reports we have is that it was raining. But really I wouldn’t like to make any conclusions on this matter now,†he said.
On the violence that is threatening to derail the peace process in Sudan, Mbabazi said: “I think the violence is a spontaneous reaction by the people whose hopes and expectations have been shattered and I think that we can only give it time.
“I was incredibly impressed by the statement by the SPLM leadership, particularly by the widow, Rebecca Garang. I mean, it was surely statesman-like of her to call upon the people to accept that this thing has happened, they must move on, the struggle must continue, they must fight for the vision that Garang fought for.
“The more we have these calls from the leaders, the better. Our hope that it will cool down so that the people of Sudan can have peace and development, which was really the wish of John Garang.â€
Some 130 people have died in clashes following Garang’s death.
Museveni said last week that the plane was equipped to standard and that it could see obstacles 100km ahead. He described Garang as a freedom fighter and a true African nationalist. Garang has been succeeded by his long-time deputy Salva Kiir, in a move that has been praised as rare among rebel groups in Africa.