Nubians delighted by Fadhul’s release
Jan 25, 2009
THE Nubian community in Bombo town was delighted by the release of Brig. Ali Fadhul. The former minister, commanding officer and provincial governor during Idi Amin’s regime in the 1970s, was released under a presidential pardon last week.
By Frederick Kiwanuka
THE Nubian community in Bombo town was delighted by the release of Brig. Ali Fadhul. The former minister, commanding officer and provincial governor during Idi Amin’s regime in the 1970s, was released under a presidential pardon last week.
Fadhul was sentenced to death in the 1980s.
A beaming Bombo town council LC3 chairman, Ishmael Dabule, said President Museveni had answered their prayers.
“We have been writing petitions to the President requesting him to release Fadhul and Nasur Abdullah. Abdalla was released sometime back. Now he has released Fadhul,†he said.
Dabule said their remaining demand was to reinstate Bombo municipality.
Bombo was relegated to a town council status, due to a decline in infrastructure.
Ahmed Ramathan, a community development officer, said Fadhul’s release was a presidential gift to the Nubians.
“We are happy because this is the special gift the Nubians have been waiting for,†he said.
Abdulai Sebbi, the publicity secretary of the Bombo-based Nubian Cultural Information Centre, said several Nubian delegations had met President Museveni over Fadhul’s release.
Mustafa Ahmed, a student at Makerere University Business School, said Fadhul’s release would encourage development in the community.
Political leaders and the civil society also hailed President Yoweri Museveni for pardoning former security minister in the Obote II regime, Chris Rwakasisi.
Rwakasisi was also on death row at Luzira Maximum Security Prison.
Mary Karooro Okurut, the NRM party spokesperson, said: “The President has done a good thing.â€
She said the NRM and its leadership have been vindicated in the eyes of the public, adding that President Museveni was walking the path of reconciliation that he preaches.
“This is a big boost for the NRM,†she added.
Conservative Party leader Ken Lukyamuzi said it was good that the two had been released, but added that more had to be done.
“I prefer that the President pardons all political prisoners,†he said.
Uganda Prisoner’s Aid Foundation chairman J.K. Zirabamuzaale said the release of the two was a step to the abolition of the death sentence.
“Most countries are scrapping the death penalty, we should follow suit,†he said.
Fr. Silvestor Arinaitwe, the Uganda Joint Christian Council executive secretary, hailed the President for pardoning the convicts.
He said justice had been done, because the offenders had spent a long time on death row, which was a sufficient punishment.
Arinaitwe said the Christian council was against the death penalty, adding that people should be given an opportunity to realise their mistakes and reform.
Additional reporting by Milton Olupot
THE Nubian community in Bombo town was delighted by the release of Brig. Ali Fadhul. The former minister, commanding officer and provincial governor during Idi Amin’s regime in the 1970s, was released under a presidential pardon last week.
Fadhul was sentenced to death in the 1980s.
A beaming Bombo town council LC3 chairman, Ishmael Dabule, said President Museveni had answered their prayers.
“We have been writing petitions to the President requesting him to release Fadhul and Nasur Abdullah. Abdalla was released sometime back. Now he has released Fadhul,†he said.
Dabule said their remaining demand was to reinstate Bombo municipality.
Bombo was relegated to a town council status, due to a decline in infrastructure.
Ahmed Ramathan, a community development officer, said Fadhul’s release was a presidential gift to the Nubians.
“We are happy because this is the special gift the Nubians have been waiting for,†he said.
Abdulai Sebbi, the publicity secretary of the Bombo-based Nubian Cultural Information Centre, said several Nubian delegations had met President Museveni over Fadhul’s release.
Mustafa Ahmed, a student at Makerere University Business School, said Fadhul’s release would encourage development in the community.
Political leaders and the civil society also hailed President Yoweri Museveni for pardoning former security minister in the Obote II regime, Chris Rwakasisi.
Rwakasisi was also on death row at Luzira Maximum Security Prison.
Mary Karooro Okurut, the NRM party spokesperson, said: “The President has done a good thing.â€
She said the NRM and its leadership have been vindicated in the eyes of the public, adding that President Museveni was walking the path of reconciliation that he preaches.
“This is a big boost for the NRM,†she added.
Conservative Party leader Ken Lukyamuzi said it was good that the two had been released, but added that more had to be done.
“I prefer that the President pardons all political prisoners,†he said.
Uganda Prisoner’s Aid Foundation chairman J.K. Zirabamuzaale said the release of the two was a step to the abolition of the death sentence.
“Most countries are scrapping the death penalty, we should follow suit,†he said.
Fr. Silvestor Arinaitwe, the Uganda Joint Christian Council executive secretary, hailed the President for pardoning the convicts.
He said justice had been done, because the offenders had spent a long time on death row, which was a sufficient punishment.
Arinaitwe said the Christian council was against the death penalty, adding that people should be given an opportunity to realise their mistakes and reform.
Additional reporting by Milton Olupot