I Won’t Mourn Amin - Museveni
President Yoweri Museveni has criticised Uganda embassy officials in Saudi Arabia for visiting former dictator Idi Amin in a Saudi hospital where he died on Saturday.
By Nathan Etengu and Richard Otim in Soroti
President Yoweri Museveni has criticised Uganda embassy officials in Saudi Arabia for visiting former dictator Idi Amin in a Saudi hospital where he died on Saturday.
“He thought dying in Mecca would make a difference. What will Idi Amin be remembered for. When he was killing people, did he think he was immortal?†Museveni asked.
He was addressing Teso leaders at Soroti Hotel on Saturday. He said he would never touch Idi Amin’s body, even if it meant using a long stick.
“I even heard that our people at the embassy in Saudi Arabia went to see him in hospital. What is wrong with some people. See Amin for what,†Museveni wondered. He said the Government would have ordered for the national flag to be flown at half-mast if Amin was a respected leader. He said he dis-agreed with Amin right from the time the dictator took over power in 1971.
“Idi Amin ruled me for only one day. Thereafter I went into exile because I could not be led by a leader like Amin. He was an illiterate,†Museveni said.
He said he disagreed with the Democratic Party for supporting Idi Amin on the basis that the dictator had helped over-throw Milton Obote whom the party opposed. “I told the DP that I could not support Idi Amin even if I had problems with Obote,†Museveni said.
He said most of the people who celebrated Amin’s ascension into power later suffered both individually and as a community over the atrocities that were committed by the dictator’s regime.
Museveni, however, said his government had been supporting Idi Amin’s family.
The meeting presented proposals for ending the LRA in Teso and Uganda.
Soroti LC5 chairman Captain John Emily Otekat, on behalf of the other leaders, appealed for a special grant to the districts that had been destabilised by the invasion.
Former Iteso cultural leader Emorimor Paphras Imodot narrated to Museveni how he was abducted by the rebels on August 6.
He said rebel chief Tabuley forced him to pose for photos.
President Yoweri Museveni has criticised Uganda embassy officials in Saudi Arabia for visiting former dictator Idi Amin in a Saudi hospital where he died on Saturday.
“He thought dying in Mecca would make a difference. What will Idi Amin be remembered for. When he was killing people, did he think he was immortal?†Museveni asked.
He was addressing Teso leaders at Soroti Hotel on Saturday. He said he would never touch Idi Amin’s body, even if it meant using a long stick.
“I even heard that our people at the embassy in Saudi Arabia went to see him in hospital. What is wrong with some people. See Amin for what,†Museveni wondered. He said the Government would have ordered for the national flag to be flown at half-mast if Amin was a respected leader. He said he dis-agreed with Amin right from the time the dictator took over power in 1971.
“Idi Amin ruled me for only one day. Thereafter I went into exile because I could not be led by a leader like Amin. He was an illiterate,†Museveni said.
He said he disagreed with the Democratic Party for supporting Idi Amin on the basis that the dictator had helped over-throw Milton Obote whom the party opposed. “I told the DP that I could not support Idi Amin even if I had problems with Obote,†Museveni said.
He said most of the people who celebrated Amin’s ascension into power later suffered both individually and as a community over the atrocities that were committed by the dictator’s regime.
Museveni, however, said his government had been supporting Idi Amin’s family.
The meeting presented proposals for ending the LRA in Teso and Uganda.
Soroti LC5 chairman Captain John Emily Otekat, on behalf of the other leaders, appealed for a special grant to the districts that had been destabilised by the invasion.
Former Iteso cultural leader Emorimor Paphras Imodot narrated to Museveni how he was abducted by the rebels on August 6.
He said rebel chief Tabuley forced him to pose for photos.