Fall of Idi Amin: 'Looting was used as a tool of war'

Apr 11, 2017

In huge buildings where Amin’s men hid, the liberators would send their looters first.

PIC: Emmanuel B'Gisha recalls the events at the time of Idi Amin's collapse. (Credit: Emmanuel B'Gisha/Facebook)

THE FALL OF IDI AMIN


On this day 38 years ago (April 11, 1979), Ugandan president Idi Amin was ousted and forced to flee into exile when Kampala was captured, bringing an end to his eight-year rule. Where were you that day? We would like to know your story. Emmanuel B'Gisha, a chaplain at Bukinda S.S. at Diocese of Kigezi, shares his story . . .

By Emmanuel B'Gisha

Amin was toppled on April 11, 1979. It was a Wednesday in the holy week because Easter was on 15th of that month.

I was on duty at All Saints Cathedral, Nakasero. I was in my 4th year at Bishop Tucker College Training as a church minister. My pastoral posting for six months was at this cathedral.

On Palm Sunday, April 8, I walked from Baker road, just behind the Nakasero State Lodge, where I stayed. I walked past the officers' mess a few buildings before Nomo Gallery. I met there fierce Amin's army men.

The atmosphere was already charged by Saba Saba. Nobody trusted another. Remember it had been discovered that the invading guerrillas had already infiltrated Kampala and Entebbe. Some guerrillas were working as houseboys of top Amin's generals. So everybody was suspect.

I put on a long cassock which I had picked from the vestry cupboard since I had not yet bought my own vestments. I put it on and held three Bibles and a prayerbook to show these Amin men that I was on duty.

As I passed by them, they looked at me and I looked at them. Then I waved to them a jambo [greeting gesture]. To my pleasure, they waved back. Then my heart was put to rest. I knew that I was safe.

To my surprise, I found the church full. We had four services:

- 8.00am Holy Communion

- 9.30am Family service, which I was going to conduct

- 11.00am Main service and

- 6.00pm Evening service

That night, the shelling of Saba Saba tripled. I was forced to abandon the residence to a safer place at Gayaza High School, where 30 people were packed in the house of my brother.

On the evening of Tuesday, the guerrillas approached Kampala in five fronts. I saw the group that passed through Gayaza town from Kabanyoro.

On Wednesday, April 11, we heard that Kampala had been overpowered.

On Easter day, Bishop Kivengere preached in the three morning services. In the 11am service, it rained and loud speakers failed. We got a table, put it in the middle of the church hall and the bishop stood on it for all to hear. Each word he spoke looked like honey to the hearers.

Then looting started. My place of residence was swept clean. Later on we discovered some of our mattresses were hidden in the fence. Perhaps the looters were near.

Looting at one point was used by the invading army, now "liberators", as a tool of war. In huge buildings where Amin's men hid, the liberators would send their looters first. If these looters reported that there were army men, then the so called liberators burned that building and Amin's men would be roasted there.

Remember the words liberators are telling looters: ‘Take the property. It is yours. Amin had been cheating you for all these nine years.'

So people carried as much as they were able to.

Where were you on April 11th April, 1979? Do you have a moving national story or picture to share with UGANDA? Please send your information to website@newvision.co.ug or through our social media pages on Facebook and Twitter

 

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