FLASH BACK: Witness Saw Amin Kill
Aug 18, 2003
Deposed President Idi Amin once personally killed a police official with a hammer and on many occasions took part in the beatings of soldiers from rival tribes.
Deposed President Idi Amin once personally killed a police official with a hammer and on many occasions took part in the beatings of soldiers from rival tribes.
Apollo Lawoke Uganda’s new director of the country’s radio and television claimed today that he was personally present when Amin wielding a hammer, killed the official.
“While I was held, they were killing between 150 to 200 Acholi and Langi a day until the end of April. After that, it was lowered to a minimum of 50 a day for the rest of the time I was in (jail).
“The killing started around 7.30 p.m. and continued until about four in the morning. The murder squad, holding hammers, crow bars and pistols, would line up on the steps leading to the ground floor,†he related. “Then, one by one, the roll of those listed for execution would be called.
“The guards would put a noose around the neck of each prisoner and handcuff them. Then someone would drag him along the staircase and people would beat him.
“Finally,†he said, “his head would be beaten and by the time they reached the top of the steps, they were dead.â€
The predominantly Christian Langi and Acholi tribes were favourite targets for Amin's wrath during his eight years in power.
Former President Milton Obote, deposed by Amin in 1971, was a Langi and most of his administration and army came from the Langi and Acholi tribes.
Lawoko was arrested with 24 other alleged coup plotters by the Amin government. He stood trial with 15 others in August, 1977. He and one other man were acquitted, while 14 were sentenced to death.
Meanwhile Tanzanian and Uganda government forces were pursuing the final offensive against old regime loyalists in northern Uganda, amidst reports of massacres of Christian civilians by Muslim soldiers of deposed President Idi Amin.
The Tanzanian and Ugandan assault forces entered the Langi and Acholi tribal areas of northern Uganda earlier in the week and are heading towards Lira, one of three remaining district capitals still under the control of Amin troops.
Reports from refugees fleeing Lira say about 300 pro-Amin soldiers there killed at least two priests and have been harassing and murdering Christian civilians.
All churches and convents in Lira, located about 210 kilometres north of Kampala, have allegedly been looted and destroyed by the pro-Amin units.
“They have taken everything from the missions, including the beds,†Sister Janet, a Catholic nun here said.
She said a Ugandan priest, Father Anania, and Italian missionary Father Giuseppe Sante were murdered last month after they had approached Lira’s army barracks with five civilians to investigate a report that Tanzanian and new Ugandan government soldiers captured the installation.
The eight men, she said, were executed on the spot by Amin soldiers at the barracks when the rumour proved false.
Lira, together with the district capitals of Gulu and Arua, Amin’s home town in west Nile district, are still under control of Amin loyalists, whose combined numbers are estimated from between 3,000 to 10,000 men.
Sunday Nation (Kenya) May 13, 1979
Apollo Lawoke Uganda’s new director of the country’s radio and television claimed today that he was personally present when Amin wielding a hammer, killed the official.
“While I was held, they were killing between 150 to 200 Acholi and Langi a day until the end of April. After that, it was lowered to a minimum of 50 a day for the rest of the time I was in (jail).
“The killing started around 7.30 p.m. and continued until about four in the morning. The murder squad, holding hammers, crow bars and pistols, would line up on the steps leading to the ground floor,†he related. “Then, one by one, the roll of those listed for execution would be called.
“The guards would put a noose around the neck of each prisoner and handcuff them. Then someone would drag him along the staircase and people would beat him.
“Finally,†he said, “his head would be beaten and by the time they reached the top of the steps, they were dead.â€
The predominantly Christian Langi and Acholi tribes were favourite targets for Amin's wrath during his eight years in power.
Former President Milton Obote, deposed by Amin in 1971, was a Langi and most of his administration and army came from the Langi and Acholi tribes.
Lawoko was arrested with 24 other alleged coup plotters by the Amin government. He stood trial with 15 others in August, 1977. He and one other man were acquitted, while 14 were sentenced to death.
Meanwhile Tanzanian and Uganda government forces were pursuing the final offensive against old regime loyalists in northern Uganda, amidst reports of massacres of Christian civilians by Muslim soldiers of deposed President Idi Amin.
The Tanzanian and Ugandan assault forces entered the Langi and Acholi tribal areas of northern Uganda earlier in the week and are heading towards Lira, one of three remaining district capitals still under the control of Amin troops.
Reports from refugees fleeing Lira say about 300 pro-Amin soldiers there killed at least two priests and have been harassing and murdering Christian civilians.
All churches and convents in Lira, located about 210 kilometres north of Kampala, have allegedly been looted and destroyed by the pro-Amin units.
“They have taken everything from the missions, including the beds,†Sister Janet, a Catholic nun here said.
She said a Ugandan priest, Father Anania, and Italian missionary Father Giuseppe Sante were murdered last month after they had approached Lira’s army barracks with five civilians to investigate a report that Tanzanian and new Ugandan government soldiers captured the installation.
The eight men, she said, were executed on the spot by Amin soldiers at the barracks when the rumour proved false.
Lira, together with the district capitals of Gulu and Arua, Amin’s home town in west Nile district, are still under control of Amin loyalists, whose combined numbers are estimated from between 3,000 to 10,000 men.
Sunday Nation (Kenya) May 13, 1979