Amin film excites Museveni
President Yoweri Museveni on Saturday night confirmed that The Last King of Scotland portrayed the true character of former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin Dada.
BY VISION REPORTER
President Yoweri Museveni on Saturday night confirmed that The Last King of Scotland portrayed the true character of former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin Dada.
“I congratulate Mr. Whitaker for putting down Amin the way he was, unpredictable and cunny. He could alternate between charm and brutality. He could be laughing with journalists while massacres were being carried out on his orders. That is why so many people were killed,†Museveni said.
At the end of the premiere, the President confessed that he had not been to a cinema for 47 years. “The last time I was in a theatre was in 1959 in Mbarara. I did not need any fiction. There was enough drama in real life.â€
While pointing out that many scenes in the film had actually happened, such as Amin slaughtering his own wife, Kay, over an abortion, Museveni noted that the movie only told part of Uganda’s history.
“The movie only covered the period 1971 to 1976. There is much more the world needs to know about Uganda, such as our liberation war, the activities of Kony. I am inviting other film makers to come to Uganda and make movies about our history. This country has every imaginable scene for films – mountains, lakes, villages and towns.â€
Asked if he would want a film made about him, Museveni, who was accompanied by his wife and three daughters, said he did not want to be ‘Hollywood-anised’. “Films about Uganda as a country are more interesting than films about me.â€
He welcomed former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa and his wife Anna, for attending the premiere.
“Only three countries stood by us in that difficult time: Zambia, Mozambique and Tanzania. It was the Tanzanian army that eventually chased out Amin in 1979. President Mkapa’s presence here tonight is a symbol of African solidarity,†he commented.
Earlier, senior presidential media adviser, John Nagenda, said Whitaker should become President of the United States for his brilliant performance.
Drawing bolts of laughter, Nagenda revealed that he had brought the producers to Museveni in January 2005 after checking their fingernails and shoes. “The President was surprised that film makers could be so clean.â€
He also disclosed that the producers requested VAT exemption, assistance from the army and the closure of some Kampala roads during the filming of scenes in the capital; requests which the President granted.
At the cocktail at Emin Pasha Hotel,Whitaker, who won several awards for his portrayal of Amin and is expecting an Oscar, said he spent one-and-a-half months in Uganda preparing for the role. ‘I read all the books about Amin. I talked to a lot of people who had known him and I gained 50 pounds for the role.†Asked if he did not have nightmares about the man, he confessed: “I dreamt about him, yes.â€
Others present at the premiere was Scottish actor James McAvoy, who played Amin’s personal physician, film director Kevin McDonald and Ugandan actors Abbey Mukiibi, Sam Okello, Steven Rwangyezi and Sarah Nagayi.
President Yoweri Museveni on Saturday night confirmed that The Last King of Scotland portrayed the true character of former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin Dada.
“I congratulate Mr. Whitaker for putting down Amin the way he was, unpredictable and cunny. He could alternate between charm and brutality. He could be laughing with journalists while massacres were being carried out on his orders. That is why so many people were killed,†Museveni said.
At the end of the premiere, the President confessed that he had not been to a cinema for 47 years. “The last time I was in a theatre was in 1959 in Mbarara. I did not need any fiction. There was enough drama in real life.â€
While pointing out that many scenes in the film had actually happened, such as Amin slaughtering his own wife, Kay, over an abortion, Museveni noted that the movie only told part of Uganda’s history.
“The movie only covered the period 1971 to 1976. There is much more the world needs to know about Uganda, such as our liberation war, the activities of Kony. I am inviting other film makers to come to Uganda and make movies about our history. This country has every imaginable scene for films – mountains, lakes, villages and towns.â€
Asked if he would want a film made about him, Museveni, who was accompanied by his wife and three daughters, said he did not want to be ‘Hollywood-anised’. “Films about Uganda as a country are more interesting than films about me.â€
He welcomed former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa and his wife Anna, for attending the premiere.
“Only three countries stood by us in that difficult time: Zambia, Mozambique and Tanzania. It was the Tanzanian army that eventually chased out Amin in 1979. President Mkapa’s presence here tonight is a symbol of African solidarity,†he commented.
Earlier, senior presidential media adviser, John Nagenda, said Whitaker should become President of the United States for his brilliant performance.
Drawing bolts of laughter, Nagenda revealed that he had brought the producers to Museveni in January 2005 after checking their fingernails and shoes. “The President was surprised that film makers could be so clean.â€
He also disclosed that the producers requested VAT exemption, assistance from the army and the closure of some Kampala roads during the filming of scenes in the capital; requests which the President granted.
At the cocktail at Emin Pasha Hotel,Whitaker, who won several awards for his portrayal of Amin and is expecting an Oscar, said he spent one-and-a-half months in Uganda preparing for the role. ‘I read all the books about Amin. I talked to a lot of people who had known him and I gained 50 pounds for the role.†Asked if he did not have nightmares about the man, he confessed: “I dreamt about him, yes.â€
Others present at the premiere was Scottish actor James McAvoy, who played Amin’s personal physician, film director Kevin McDonald and Ugandan actors Abbey Mukiibi, Sam Okello, Steven Rwangyezi and Sarah Nagayi.