Ex-President Idi Amin Still Fighting For Life, Say Saudi Doctors
Former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin was still receiving treatment on Tuesday at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in the Saudi Red Sea city, a hospital source said, refuting reports of his death.
By Yunusu Abbey
and Agencies
Former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin was still receiving treatment on Tuesday at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in the Saudi Red Sea city, a hospital source said, refuting reports of his death.
“He is alive under medical attention in the intensive care unit. He is in a stable condition,†the hospital source said without elaborating.
Last Wednesday Amin came out of coma but remained under close watch by doctors.
Hospital officials refused to specify Amin’s illness or provide details about his condition at the request of family members who have been living with him in Saudi Arabia in obscurity for more than 10 years. Amin, a Muslim now in his eighties, was admitted to hospital on July 18.
His 1971 to 1979 reign in Uganda following a military coup was one of the bloodiest in Africa’s modern history, and Amin has not been back to his country since he was ousted by joint forces of Tanzanian troops and Ugandan exiles on April 11, 1979.
Up to 400,000 people are estimated to have died during his time in office or are still unaccounted for.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni warned last week that Amin would face trial for his atrocities if he returned to his homeland alive.
Last week, one of his wives and a daughter joined him at his bedside after a flight from Kampala “facilitated†by the government. On Monday his son, Hussein Lumumba, flew to Saudi Arabia. His flight was also facilitated by the government.
Lumumba is a producer and Disk Jockey with Kampala’s Capital Radio.
“He arrived safely in Jeddah and was linking up with his brothers who are looking after their father who has a kidney problem,†said a source.
Ends
and Agencies
Former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin was still receiving treatment on Tuesday at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in the Saudi Red Sea city, a hospital source said, refuting reports of his death.
“He is alive under medical attention in the intensive care unit. He is in a stable condition,†the hospital source said without elaborating.
Last Wednesday Amin came out of coma but remained under close watch by doctors.
Hospital officials refused to specify Amin’s illness or provide details about his condition at the request of family members who have been living with him in Saudi Arabia in obscurity for more than 10 years. Amin, a Muslim now in his eighties, was admitted to hospital on July 18.
His 1971 to 1979 reign in Uganda following a military coup was one of the bloodiest in Africa’s modern history, and Amin has not been back to his country since he was ousted by joint forces of Tanzanian troops and Ugandan exiles on April 11, 1979.
Up to 400,000 people are estimated to have died during his time in office or are still unaccounted for.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni warned last week that Amin would face trial for his atrocities if he returned to his homeland alive.
Last week, one of his wives and a daughter joined him at his bedside after a flight from Kampala “facilitated†by the government. On Monday his son, Hussein Lumumba, flew to Saudi Arabia. His flight was also facilitated by the government.
Lumumba is a producer and Disk Jockey with Kampala’s Capital Radio.
“He arrived safely in Jeddah and was linking up with his brothers who are looking after their father who has a kidney problem,†said a source.
Ends