Eliphaz Laki

Eliphaz Laki, Former County Chief of Ibanda, Mbarara

Amin Era Soldier Faces Murder Charge
©New Vision (Kampala)
July 7, 2001

Another soldier of the defunct Uganda Army Sgt. Mohamed Anyure, was on Thursday charged with the 1972 murder of Eliphaz Laki, the former county chief of Ibanda, Mbarara, reports Hillary Kiirya.

Anyure is the third soldier to be charged with the murder. The others were Amin's former army chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Yusuf Gowon, and his bodyguard, Nursur Gille.

Anyure, who was arrested last week, was remanded in Luzira on Thursday. Gowon, however, was granted bail on 18 June due to illness, including high blood pressure. He is to re-appear in court on July 12 for mention. Buganda Road Court Grade One Magistrate Joyce Namubiru told the accused to apply to the High Court for bail.

The prosecutor, Miriam Akite, said Anyure, Gowon and Gille, murdered Laki at his county office in Ibanda. in Mabarara district. The hearing was adjourned to July 12 when he also re-appears in court.

Copyright © 2001 New Vision. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).

The Teeth May Smile But The Heart Does Not Forget

Murder and memory in Uganda.

Written by Jason Zasky   Filed under History

The accused (from left): Mohammed Anyule, Nasur Gille, and Yusuf Gowon. Photo by Andrew Rice.

Uganda is considered one of the great success stories of Africa. But today’s relative calm and prosperity belies the country’s dark past under the regime of military dictator Idi Amin Dada. Among the tens of thousands of atrocities committed during Amin’s brutal reign was the politically motivated execution of local chief Eliphaz Laki, who was “taken” on September 22, 1972, when his son Duncan was just nine years old.

For close to three decades, Duncan wondered about the mysterious circumstances surrounding his dad’s disappearance. Over the years, he made several halting attempts to identify his father’s killers, but his efforts went for naught until he discovered that Eliphaz’s Volkswagen Beetle had been registered in another man’s name in November 1972. Beginning with that key bit of information, Duncan tracked down those allegedly responsible for his father’s murder—former Amin chief of staff Yusuf Gowon, triggerman Nasur Gille and informer Mohammed Anyule—and had them arrested for their crimes.

Duncan’s attempt to bring Gowon and his co-defendants to justice roiled parts of Uganda, a country that has taken a “forgive and forget” approach to its bloody past. At the same time, his determined action seemed to assuage fellow victims of Amin-era violence, who had long been denied the opportunity to seek reconciliation or witness a day of reckoning.

Read more: http://failuremag.com/feature/article/the_teeth_may_smile_but_the_heart_does_not_forget/#ixzz26zxf6484
http://failuremag.com/feature/article/the_teeth_may_smile_but_the_heart_does_not_forget/

Asians Expelled By Amin

Dr Arnold Spero Bisase’s book Guardian Angel Volume One: The Beginning to find out what actually made former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin to expel Asian British passport holders from Uganda.

The story, if true, goes like this, and I knew the   narrator and his family well as they were my friends and patients at my Practice in Kampala. He told me that Idi Amin was once invited to an Asian function in 1972. He and many dignitaries, some local and some international, attended this rather lavish occasion; our Asian friends can really lay it on when they have someone eminent to impress, like The President of Uganda. The many well to do businessmen from their community paid their respects, and as per custom their families followed in their wake. Towards the end of the procession came the family of a very prosperous businessman Mr Sherali Bandari Jaffer, the owner of The Fairway Hotel by the Kitante Road, Kampala. He was now the one narrating this story to me. Among the ladies following him was his beautiful youngest daughter. One look at her and Idi Amin instantly fancied her; his gaze fixed on her until she sat down amongst the ladies enclosure. At the conclusion of the event, Idi Amin sent his bodyguard to tell Mr Jaffer that the President wanted his daughter and was therefore proposing for her hand in marriage. At that stage Amin had already four wives, so it would have necessitated getting rid of (sack) one of them in accordance with Muslim tradition.

There was pandemonium.  Sherali Bandari Jaffer was scared witless. He and the entire family scurried away to get home. But by the next morning Idi Amin had tracked down the home of Mr Jaffer and sent him his driver carrying the official confirmation of the “request”. Mr Jaffer told the President’s driver that he had to consult other members of his family before giving his response but promised to do so soon. According to my friend Jaffer, this was the longest day of his life. That night, under the cover of darkness, he arranged with one of their relative to smuggle the entire family out of the country, bribing all their way to Nairobi. Mr Jaffer, rather like the rest of us, thought that this “request” would remain harmless and dissipate itself out. Besides, he still had his investments in the country. So he stayed behind to take care of their businesses. The family had already confirmed their safe arrival on the ‘phone’. Like a beast on heat, Idi Amin could not wait to get his chance and sent for the answer. Mr Jaffer gave the excuse of this being a family and community decision not to accept and that the girls were already away (in Nairobi of course).

Amin was so incensed by this snub that he vowed to punish, and he quoted “these people who showed flagrant discrimination against him (me)” The next day All Non-Citizen Asians were given 90 days to get out of Uganda. But the reason Idi Amin gave now was that: ‘Because God spoke to him (me)in the night  and told him (me) that they had to leave as they were responsible for exploiting the indigenous citizens of the country’!! Take that! And it is exactly as I got it from Mr Jaffer. And so began the Exodus of unimaginable proportions and suffering for the victims of this man’s obsession for the skirt.

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Amins's Wives

Mrs Sarah Kyolaba Amin: Amin respected God

Kenya: Mzee Jomo Kenyatta Post Mau-Mau Days With Idi Amin 'Dada' And Wives

Mrs. Madina Amin Amin's daughters

Big Daddy Idi Amin Dada and his women By Richard M. Kavuma "The story of Amin and his women is one that turns bizarre, comic and brutal." Madina, Amin's fourth wife was a dancer when he met her. That is how Henry Kyemba begins a chapter in his book, The State of Blood. In the book, which he wrote from exile in London in 1977, Kyemba talks of the field Marshal's five wives and the thirty mistresses and the thirty-four children he had with them. But like anything else involving Uganda's self-declared life president, the story of Amin's women is not without controversy and horror. One of his wives died in the most mysterious circumstances, with some fingers still pointing at Amin. Malyamu Amin's first wife was Malyamu, a sister of former foreign minister Wanume Kibedi. Kyemba describes Malyamu as a "statuesque six-footer.... And physically a match for the powerful young boxing champion." Malyamu was reportedly self-possessed, proud and mature, even in her early 20s, when Amin first courted her in the early 1950s. Amin at that time a 28 year-old sergeant in the King's African Rifles, was not an attractive son in law for the Kibedi family. But like a teenager madly in love, Malyamu risked her family's disapproval and went ahead to live with him. The Kakwa soldier did not formally marry Malyamu until 1966 and by then had "several children" with her. He reportedly paid bride price to the Kibedi family and the marriage was thus formalised. Kay Adroa A beautiful, intelligent Makerere University student and daughter of a clergyman, Kay was Amin's second wife. He started seeing her even before he formalised his relationship with Malyamu. According to Kyemba, who attended the reception of Amin's civil marriage to Adroa in Arua, she was a dignified, quiet and self-possessed girl. For her wedding, she turned out in a white bridal gown and Amin in a full army uniform, with Erinayo Oryema as the best man. Kyemba reveals that the romance between Amin and Kay had blossomed shortly before when, in February 1966, Parliament implicated Amin over allegations of stealing gold from Congo. Amin responded to the allegations by going into hiding with Kay. Nora Barely a year later, Amin was acquiring his third wife. By this time, Amin had risen to national stature and this marriage was awash with political innuendo. Obote had become suspicious of his Kakwa hitman's intentions. Nora was from Obote's tribe, the Langi, and the marriage was a political statement to the effect that Amin had no hostile intentions toward Obote. Madina Madina was a dancer with the Heart of Africa troupe. By her own admission, it was during a concert when Amin spotted her dancing and requested to have a word with her. Kyemba narrates that Amin noticed Madina from the first days of the coup in January 1971. Writes Kyemba: "Indeed it would have been impossible not to notice her. Madina was, quite simply, stunning. Although she has now put on a few pounds, she had a figure then that was dramatically sexy by any standards...She was slim-hipped, with well-formed breasts and was a ferociously agile dancer." One time, on a trip to Moyo, Amin undressed in the presence of Kyemba and jumped into his bed. As Kyemba walked out, a bodyguard ushered Madina into the room.Interestingly, although Madina was such hot property, Amin enjoyed teasing his ministers saying that they could take Madina if they wanted. One minister who tried was later transferred to another ministry and eventually dismissed. In September 1972, as Obote made a daring raid from Tanzania, Amin announced his marriage to Madina. He unwittingly said the Baganda had offered Madina to him for all he had done for them since the take over. Later, Amin served three of his wives - Malyamu, Nora and Kay - with letters of divorce. He accused Malyamu and Nora of being involved in business while Kay was dismissed ostensibly because she was a cousin of his. However Kyemba reveals that Amin's womanising had not allowed him enough time with his first three wives. Left to themselves, the wives had acquired lovers. On the eve of their dismissal, the women held a joint party for their lovers and told Amin off - they told him to stay with his Madina. They faced a difficult time outside Amin's household. Malyamu was arrested in Tororo, had her car was rammed into by Amin's bodyguards and she was hospitalised. Idi Amin insulted her on her hospital bed before she fled to London and Amin had the shop he had given her upon the expulsion of Asians shop looted bare. Kay is suspected to have died as her lover Mbalu Mukasa attempted a surgical abortion. Her body was however mysteriously dismembered although Amin showed neither surprise nor contrition at her death. Instead he had her young children aged between four and eight brought before the body and shouted at them, telling them how bad their mother was. Nora, the Langi, simply continued running the business for which she was divorced and Amin made no attempt to disgrace her. Sarah Sarah Kyolaba, was a dancer in the jazz band of the Masaka- based Mechanised Unit when Amin became interested in her. She was barely 18 and was living with a young man. Kyemba says that around Christmas Day of 1974, Sarah delivered a baby at Namirembe (Mengo) Hospital but Amin had her transferred to Mulago's VIP ward. On the orders of Amin, Kyemba issued a statement that a baby had been born to the President. The name of the mother was not mentioned. Amin then had Sarah returned to her boyfriend's house but she would be regularly driven to Amin's residence on the field marshal's orders. Later, around April 1975,Sarah's boyfriend, who was the father of the child, refused her to be taken to Amin for pleasure. He vanished and was never heard of again. Writes Kyemba: "Sarah was brought to Kampala. She of course knew perfectly well Amin had killed her lover but there was nothing she could do about it." Amin married Sarah during the OAU summit in August 1975 and held two successive receptions because of what he called "public demand". But he was later to be perturbed by Sarah's failure to bear him a child.

Idi Amin Dada

Idi Amin - Expelled Ugandan Asians Arrive In The U.K, 1972.

Idi Amin's Victims: Top Left - St.J.Luwum (RIP) Top Center - Kay (RIP)

Idi Amin Dada

Bukenda

Social Origins of Violence in Uganda, 1964-1985

 By A. Kasozi

On 17 September 1972 a joint invasion of armed exiles was launched from Tanzania into southern Uganda.  It was a fiasco.  Wary of Obote's return, some Baganda peasants living in the area leaked news of the invasion to Amin.  In any case, the exercise had been badly planned, and the incident gave Amin the excuse to eliminate his opponents in the county.  In the Ankole/ Masaka area, Amin rounded up and killed many of those who had UPC sympathies or were presumed to be collaborating with the invaders.  It was in this period that Ben Kiwanuka was Killed.  Mbarara, the area to the southwest that the guerillas had penetrated, witnessed brutal eliminations.  Most of those presumed to have been supporters of Milton Obote were killed, including Basil Bataringaya, a former minister, Tibayungwa, Bekunda, Rwabashoka, Kanyonyore, Kabaterine, Kansinsi, and hundreds more.  

Hassan Simbura

Chief Engineer at Lugazi Sugar Works, killed in 1973 by Amin.

Social Origins of Violence in Uganda, 1964-1985
 By A. Kasozi

Kasasa

Murdered in 1972,  he was from Ankole.  Manager of American Life Insurance in Uganda.

Social Origins of Violence in Uganda, 1964-1985

 By A. Kasozi

Kabaterine

Killed by Amin in 1972

Social Origins of Violence in Uganda, 1964-1985

 By A. Kasozi

Kanyonyore

Killed by Amin in 1972



Social Origins of Violence in Uganda, 1964-1985
 By A. Kasozi

Kansinsi

Killed by Amin in 1972

Social Origins of Violence in Uganda, 1964-1985

 By A. Kasozi

Rwabashoka

Killed by Amin in 1972

Social Origins of Violence in Uganda, 1964-1985
 By A. Kasozi

Tibayungwa

Killed in 1972 by Amin

Social Origins of Violence in Uganda, 1964-1985

 By A. Kasozi

Gaspero Oda

Mr Gaspero Oda (RIP) Murdered.

Mr Oda was murdered together with Mr Martin Okello (First MP West Nile Madi Region). Their bodies were disposed of in River Obongi, they were discovered by the stench of their badly decomposed bodies.

Mr Justice Michael Kagwa

President, Industrial Court.

Kagwa was extremely rich (he had a Mercedes sports car with its own TV)had a girlfriend, Helen Ogwang, in whom Amin was interested. In september 1971, Kagwa was seized by Amin's bodyguards at the Kampala international hotel swimming pool. They shot him and burnt his body, together with his mercedes, on the outskirts of Kampala near namirember Cathedral. No attempt was made to discover who the murderers were. The senior polic officers had already ben arrested for investigating the Okoya murder.

Killed.

Source Henry Kyemba....

Mr.Charles.D Ogwal-Agea

Mr.Charles.D. Ogwal-Agea former Commissioner for Education,Western Province arrested (together with Mr.Lakayana-Acika-CYO) in Fort Portal /Toro,driven to Kampala State Research HQ-Nakaserro Dungeaon were they wrote their names in their own blood,recorded the date and time of their arrest and eventual transfer to the killer Dungeon were they were butchered according to one Dungeon survivor Mr.Apollo Okello-Lawoko [Former Director of Broadcating];Ministry of Information and Broadcating;himself a personal friend of my late father and one of the most emminent Pioneer of Pioneers in fields of electronic news gathering and broadcasting,i want to pay glowing tribute to him for writing a deeply touching book abt the gruesome murders of prominent Ugandan and other nationals murdered by Amin and his henchmen;yes these are rock solid reminder for posterity and future generations to learn from the tragic history of our nation,written in the blood of our own people.May all who met their violent death at the hands of the evil men/women who took their sacred lives,be rested eternally in the presense of God up yonder in that mansion in heaven where the only thing there created by man are the scars in the hands of Jesus.R.I.P all our departed kinsfolks.Finally i want to personally thank my good freind and dear brother,beloved Daudi Kololo for courageously putting up the sad,sad,sad saddest links above,may God bless and keep you safe;best of the best;warmest good wishes for the new year from me2u.GBU.Amen.