Today in History: Obote's body flown in from Zambia

 October 18, 2005

Eleven years ago today, former President Apollo Milton Obote's body was flown into the country from Zambia aboard a government-chartered aircraft, ending 20 years of exile.

It was received with both cheers and jeers ahead of a state funeral service. 

Draped in the black, yellow and red Uganda flag, the heavy mahogany casket was accompanied by Obote's wife Miria and four children: the then dreadlocked Jimmy Akena, Tony Akaki, Ben Opieto and his daughter, Achena.

Obote led Uganda to independence in 1962 from British colonial administration.

He ruled Uganda twice as president, first from 1966 to 1971 (Obote I) and later from 1980 to 1985 (Obote II).

He died of kidney failure in a hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa on October 10, 2005, a day after Uganda's independence day anniversary.