Uganda has changed alot
Oct 08, 2006
SIR — There are very many thoughts that pass through the mind as we<br>celebrate 44 years of Uganda’s independence. As I attended the<br>Executive Committee Meeting of UNHCR in Geneva, engaged in wide ranging discussions on refugees worldwide, I could not avoid reflecting on Uganda’s leaders
SIR — There are very many thoughts that pass through the mind as we
celebrate 44 years of Uganda’s independence. As I attended the
Executive Committee Meeting of UNHCR in Geneva, engaged in wide ranging discussions on refugees worldwide, I could not avoid reflecting on Uganda’s leadership and refugee status.
I soon discovered that there is no country in the world that can beat Uganda on having had presidents with a refugee status connection.
The first President of Uganda, Sir Edward Mutesa ran into exile where he died as a refugee in London. He became a refugee
less than five years of independence in 1966. Obote followed him
in about the same time in 1971. For eight years Obote was in
Tanzania.
In 1979 President Lule who had been in exile in London came in. He returned into exile only 68 days after he had replaced Amin who had been ejected into exile by the UNLF forces. Both Lule and Amin died in exile with one improvement for former
President Lule that he came back dead but as a hero representing a
new era. Amin remains in exile in his life and death.
President Binaisa came in in 1980 but left office leaving three presidents whose names are never heard of because Paulo Muwanga overshadowed them. Nyamuchocho, Musoke and Wacha Olwol joined the troika but were never allowed to act as occupiers of the presidency because Muwanga
ignored them and since all of them were stayees, no liberator defended them.
The troika idea had come up because the one-
man-show had failed. It was thought that a political trinity would be better. It never worked. In1985 Obote once again departed into exile. He died a refugee in
Zambia. His remover, Okello Lutwa soon followed him in exile in
Tanzania. Like Binaisa, he returned and went to rest after he had enjoyed his renewed citizenship.
Binaisa’s long life has given him the opportunity to enjoy the status of a former president in the new era of Uganda’s political history. Dr. Kiiza Besigye’s attempt to take power on return from exile in 2006 was an effort to revive a futile practice. He came from self-exile in South Africa and tried the
presidency in February this year. I pointed out at the time that, the
effort was not going to yield results.
The situation of leading Uganda from outside has totally changed. Invading Uganda either as a person or as an army and proceeding to lead Uganda at
presidential level is no longer tenable.
Ugandans now want to elect their leaders.
Tarsis B. Kabwegyere
Kampala
celebrate 44 years of Uganda’s independence. As I attended the
Executive Committee Meeting of UNHCR in Geneva, engaged in wide ranging discussions on refugees worldwide, I could not avoid reflecting on Uganda’s leadership and refugee status.
I soon discovered that there is no country in the world that can beat Uganda on having had presidents with a refugee status connection.
The first President of Uganda, Sir Edward Mutesa ran into exile where he died as a refugee in London. He became a refugee
less than five years of independence in 1966. Obote followed him
in about the same time in 1971. For eight years Obote was in
Tanzania.
In 1979 President Lule who had been in exile in London came in. He returned into exile only 68 days after he had replaced Amin who had been ejected into exile by the UNLF forces. Both Lule and Amin died in exile with one improvement for former
President Lule that he came back dead but as a hero representing a
new era. Amin remains in exile in his life and death.
President Binaisa came in in 1980 but left office leaving three presidents whose names are never heard of because Paulo Muwanga overshadowed them. Nyamuchocho, Musoke and Wacha Olwol joined the troika but were never allowed to act as occupiers of the presidency because Muwanga
ignored them and since all of them were stayees, no liberator defended them.
The troika idea had come up because the one-
man-show had failed. It was thought that a political trinity would be better. It never worked. In1985 Obote once again departed into exile. He died a refugee in
Zambia. His remover, Okello Lutwa soon followed him in exile in
Tanzania. Like Binaisa, he returned and went to rest after he had enjoyed his renewed citizenship.
Binaisa’s long life has given him the opportunity to enjoy the status of a former president in the new era of Uganda’s political history. Dr. Kiiza Besigye’s attempt to take power on return from exile in 2006 was an effort to revive a futile practice. He came from self-exile in South Africa and tried the
presidency in February this year. I pointed out at the time that, the
effort was not going to yield results.
The situation of leading Uganda from outside has totally changed. Invading Uganda either as a person or as an army and proceeding to lead Uganda at
presidential level is no longer tenable.
Ugandans now want to elect their leaders.
Tarsis B. Kabwegyere
Kampala