Sarah Amin laid to rest in low key ceremony

By Norman Katende        

Former First Lady Sarah Kyolaba Amin was Saturday laid to rest at Ssanda, Nakawuka in a low key funeral that was attended by close friends and relatives.

Amin, 59, the former wife of the late Ugandan president Idi Amin Dada passed on June 11 at the Royal Free Hospital in London.

Relatives to Sarah Kyolaba Amin, wife to former Uganda President Idi Amin arrive at Kibuli for the funeral service before it was taken to its final resting place Saturday at Ssanda-Nakawuka on Entebbe road June 27, 2015. PHOTO/Norman Katende

Hajati Aisha Nalunkuuma, mother to Sarah Kyolaba Amin, arrives at Kibuli for her daughter's funeral service before she was laid to rest at Ssanda-Nakawuka on Entebbe road June 27, 2015. PHOTO/Norman Katende

A lady talks to Taban Amin, son of former president Amin before the she was laid to rest on Saturday at Ssanda-Nakawuka on Entebbe road June 27, 2015.   PHOTO/Norman Katende

State House footed the bill to return the body, which was received by third Deputy Premier Moses Ali at Entebbe International Airport on Friday, before a vigil that was held later in the evening at Salama-Munyonyo.

After prayers held at Kibuli mosque for about 20 minutes, attended by  Prince Kassim Nakibinge, the  body was taken to its final resting place with Amin's sons and relatives, led by Taban Amin, praising her for the love she had towards them and thanking all for turning up for the burial.

Mourners pray before the body of former First Lady Sarah Kyolaba Amin, wife to former Uganda President Idi Amin is laid to rest on Saturday at Ssanda-Nakawuka on Entebbe road June 27, 2015.  PHOTO/Norman Katende

Mourners watch as the body of former First Lady Sarah Kyolaba Amin, wife to former Uganda President Idi Amin is taken to its final resting place Saturday at Ssanda-Nakawuka on Entebbe road June 27, 2015.  PHOTO/Norman Katende

The body of former First Lady Sarah Kyolaba Amin, wife to former Uganda President Idi Amin being laid to rest Saturday at Ssanda-Nakawuka on Entebbe road June 27, 2015. PHOTO/Norman Katende

Kawempe North MP Latif Ssebagala and Former Kampala Mayor Nasser Ssebagala were among the mourners.

Sarah Amin succumbed to breast cancer. She was the last of the surviving Idi Amin's wives, having spent 30 years in UK and did not realise her dream of coming back to Uganda and start a farm in Masaka, where she hailed.

Sarah is said to have been the favourite of Amin's wives and travelled with her to exile in Saudi Arabia before she moved to the UK. She worked in a restaurant before opening a saloon business in Tottenham.