Today in history: Obote returns to Uganda
On May 27, 1980, former President Milton Obote returned to Uganda after nine years in exile in Tanzania. He landed in Bushenyi, western Uganda.
UGANDA'S HISTORY
On May 27, 1980, former President Milton Obote returned to Uganda after nine years in exile in Tanzania. Accompanied by his wife, Miria Obote, and their children, he landed in Bushenyi, western Uganda, amidst jubilation from Uganda People's Congress (UPC) party supporters.
At the Nyakisharara airfield in the then wider district of Mbarara, Obote was met by John Babiha, his former vice-president among other high profile UPC die-hards of the time.
The Washington Post of May 28, 1980, reported it as Obote's first official return home since Idi Amin overthrew him in 1971.
At the Nyakisharara airfield in the then wider district of Mbarara, Obote was met by high profile UPC die-hards. (File photo)
"Although the event was billed as Obote's first return from his nine-year exile, it has been learned that, with the consent of the Tanzanian government, he made at least three clandestine trips to Uganda to consult with government officials in the months since Tanzanian-backed rebels ousted Amin in April 1979," their reporter, Martha Honey wrote at the time.
While addressing crowds which had gathered to welcome him back, some other memorable statements he made, that were widely quoted by the media were: "Let it be known that Uganda's decade of shame is at last over," Obote said. "Let a message go across to the world that a new era is about to dawn in Uganda."
Uganda Times newspaper covered Obote's return from exile in May 1980. (File photo)
In what the Washington Post described as ‘a speech that had the ring of a campaign address' Obote appealed for unity and moral revival, saying: "Either we live together or we perish together; there is no other way."
Obote was a two-time president of Uganda. After his first term (1966-1971), Obote was overthrown by the army while on a visit to Singapore to attend a Commonwealth conference, and Idd Amin, Obote's former army commander, became President.