Thousands bury Gen. Adrisi

By Richard Drasimaku

Thousands of mourners Wednesday flocked Keri Central village in Kuluba sub-county, Koboko district to bury the former Vice-President Gen. Mustafa Adrisi.

Adrisi died in Mulago Hospital on Sunday after a long battle with diabetes, hypertension and a fractured leg. His daughter, Mustafa Bako, urged the people to take the burial as a moment of reconciliation, adding that they are proud that he was found innocent of committing crime during the time he was in government.

The body was flown in a casket wrapped in national colours by a military helicopter to Arua Airfield at 10:30am. It was then taken for prayers at the Arua Primary School before it was flown to Koboko.

Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, who represented the Government at the burial, described the late Adrisi as a professional soldier and manager who stood out for human rights and the protection of others.

“He served as a military officer and vice-president. We as the leaders of today must take cognisance of the various roles he played,” he said.

Mbabazi said NRM gives Adrisi due recognition because the Government has decided to recognise the contribution of former leaders. He added that Adrisi was a leader during the bad times, but distinguished himself by standing for the good.

Adrisi, who served for 27 years as a soldier was army chief of staff and vice-president under the regime of former president Idi Amin. He fled into exile when Amin’s regime was overthrown in 1979 and returned in 1987 to leave a quiet life at Anyafiyo cell in Arua town, where the Government recently built for him a sh484m 19-roomed house.

Mbabazi said Adrisi worked very closely with President Yoweri Museveni and attended important NRM party meetings.

He praised Adrisi for mobilising the West Nile exiles who had fled “due to the bad policies of the UPC” to return home, saving the country  billions that the UNHCR had demanded to repatriate them.

Mbabazi said by the time Amin died, Museveni had tasked him to make arrangements to help him return home.

“We used to label ex-soldiers as Amin’s or Obote’s soldiers, but we realised that this was an error. We have started a new culture of recognising the people who worked for the development of this country,” he said.

Mbabazi disclosed that the President has instructed him to ensure that the money the public service ministry proposed for former leaders’ terminal benefits are processed expeditiously and assured mourners that Adrisi’s family will get all his benefits.