Zambian UPC widows stranded
Dec 21, 2008
TWO Zambian women and their six children are stranded in Kampala after travelling from Lusaka to look for the relatives of their dead Ugandan husbands. The husbands, who belonged to the UPC party, fled to Zambia in 1985 after the overthrow of Dr. Milton Obote.
By Joseph Kariuki
TWO Zambian women and their six children are stranded in Kampala after travelling from Lusaka to look for the relatives of their dead Ugandan husbands. The husbands, who belonged to the UPC party, fled to Zambia in 1985 after the overthrow of Dr. Milton Obote.
Rebecca Musonda and Ida Katongo were among 20 Ugandans who returned home on Saturday after 26 years in exile.
The widows were granted a three-month visitors’ permit to stay in Uganda.
They said they were depending on well-wishers for upkeep.
“I was told my husband’s younger brother, Benson Ouma, is a priest in Kampala but we have never had contact with him,†said Musonda.
“I am happy that at last my desire to visit Uganda has come true. I hope I will see my relatives,†she added.
Musonda was married to Cobsa Arwai Onyaa in 1990 in Zambia. Onyaa left her with three children, Jackline Arwai, 17, Caroline Cobsa Atoo, 11 and Cobsa Ongia 15.
Katongo was married to Moses Labida, who died in 2003 and left her with three children.
She could not name any relatives of her husband.
“I was told that the education standard in Uganda is very good, that is why I want my children to benefit from it,†she explained.
“We are trying to link the widows with relatives,†said Lira Municipality MP Jimmy Akena, who received the women at the airport. Akena lived in Zambia for 20 years and returned after the death of Obote, his father, in October 2005.
The MP said Bank of Uganda chief Tumusiime-Mutebile had accommodated the widows and their children in a hostel in Kampala.
Another widow, who came six months ago, is yet to trace her relatives, according to Akena.
Among those who came back yesterday were George Komakech with his family, Sam Okello and Peter Ocheng. Ocheng said he was held up by studies. “I have come home to help develop my country; home is home.â€
Other returnees from Zambia came during Obote’s burial in 2005. More are expected this week.
TWO Zambian women and their six children are stranded in Kampala after travelling from Lusaka to look for the relatives of their dead Ugandan husbands. The husbands, who belonged to the UPC party, fled to Zambia in 1985 after the overthrow of Dr. Milton Obote.
Rebecca Musonda and Ida Katongo were among 20 Ugandans who returned home on Saturday after 26 years in exile.
The widows were granted a three-month visitors’ permit to stay in Uganda.
They said they were depending on well-wishers for upkeep.
“I was told my husband’s younger brother, Benson Ouma, is a priest in Kampala but we have never had contact with him,†said Musonda.
“I am happy that at last my desire to visit Uganda has come true. I hope I will see my relatives,†she added.
Musonda was married to Cobsa Arwai Onyaa in 1990 in Zambia. Onyaa left her with three children, Jackline Arwai, 17, Caroline Cobsa Atoo, 11 and Cobsa Ongia 15.
Katongo was married to Moses Labida, who died in 2003 and left her with three children.
She could not name any relatives of her husband.
“I was told that the education standard in Uganda is very good, that is why I want my children to benefit from it,†she explained.
“We are trying to link the widows with relatives,†said Lira Municipality MP Jimmy Akena, who received the women at the airport. Akena lived in Zambia for 20 years and returned after the death of Obote, his father, in October 2005.
The MP said Bank of Uganda chief Tumusiime-Mutebile had accommodated the widows and their children in a hostel in Kampala.
Another widow, who came six months ago, is yet to trace her relatives, according to Akena.
Among those who came back yesterday were George Komakech with his family, Sam Okello and Peter Ocheng. Ocheng said he was held up by studies. “I have come home to help develop my country; home is home.â€
Other returnees from Zambia came during Obote’s burial in 2005. More are expected this week.