Alex Ojera

Alex Ojera; right.

Obote's Minister of Information.

Killed in 1972

John Okello (Field Marshall)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Okello

The Field Marshall who liberated Zanzibar and Pemba

On January 12, 1964, with popular support from the Island’s oppressed native African majority, Okello and his men fought their way to the capital of Zanzibar, Stone Town, where the Sultan lived. Even though they were poorly armed, Okello and his men surprised the police force of Zanzibar and they took over power.

The self proclaimed Field Marshal there after created the Revolutionary Council and named the leader of the Afro-Shirazi Party, Abeid Karume as President. Karume was residing in Tanganyika, but returned to Zanzibar, where he was welcomed by Okello. Afterwards, Okello appeared to be too unstable to play any role in government of the new country and was quietly sidelined from the political scene by President Karume, who only allowed him to retain his title of Field Marshal. But after two months, he was captured and declared a prohibited immigrant while he was in Tanganyika, then later sent to Kenya. He was incarcerated multiple times and was allegedly last seen with the Ugandan President Idi Amin in 1971 and vanished afterwards.

Killed by Amin:

In the book “Revolution of Zanzibar”, written by Don Petterson, 

Idi Amin saw him as a threat (after Amin promoted himself Okello reportedly joked that "now Uganda has two field marshals" and had arranged his assassination.

Okello is a born of Iyama village, Alebtong Parish, Aloi Sub-county, Moroto county, Alebtong District (Formerly part of Lira District), Lango Sub-region. He is survived by two wives and children. According to family sources, he left his home village at 15 and set out on his own and found work in several places within East Africa. Okello left for Pemba and Zanzibar in 1959 and 1963 respectively where he lived and worked as a clerk, manservant, gardener and later on a police officer.

More importantly, the dependants of the late Field Marshal Okello live in chronic and abject poverty. I therefore appeal to the Government of Uganda in conjunction with the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar to honestly come in and extend a hand of help aimed at salvaging the plight of Field Marshal John Okello’s dependants.

The writer is MP for Ajure County

Otim Oryem

He was apprehended.... by security men. He was quietly led away to an underground subway. Otim could not allow himself to be interrogated and tortured.....

That fateful morning of 15th July 1975 died a true, and perhaps the most courageous son of uganda and one of the last Oryems........

God bless Acholi

'Jolly Joe' J.W. Kiwanuka

Journalist, MP and former president of Uganda National Congress

Long-time politician / Murdered in cold blood.

Joseph Kiwanuka had the dubious distinction of being killed by Idi Amin himself. First, however, he was kept in Makindye Prison/barracks for several days of torture. On the day of his execution, Amin and a top official named Malire determined to beat him to death with hammers. They intended to drag out the ordeal and prolong his suffering, but as Joseph began to pray out loud for the forgiveness of their sins, Amin went into an uncontrollable rage, grabbed a nearby sledge hammer, dashed out his brains.

Amin then cut off his head and practiced blood rituals over his remains. Recognizing Jolly Joe as the smartes man in Uganda he stored his head in a deep freezer, superstitiously believeing that he could thus appropriate his ability to think.

Jolly Joe Kiwanuka has found the Kingdom!

Adapted from A Distant Grief by F. Kefa Sempangi.

Drama Queen said...

This is my Grandad, he was a great man, he died fighting for what he believed in. and he lives forever in our hearts, his multitude of grand children are all propelled by the memory of his nobility, unshakeable sense of right and wrong, and his voice that tore through the threats of dictatorship and reached his beloved people of Uganda. I'm very proud to carry his name Melinda Nampiima KIWANUKA.

Tobias Okot

From Palaro,

Killed together with Keneri Odoch.  Thrown over Karuma bridge

Karuma Bridge where Tobias Okot (RIP), Keneri Odoch (RIP) and an unspecified number of Amin's murdered victims were thrown.

------------------------------------------------------------

Doreen okot said...

Daddy rest in peace, your children & grandchildren miss you so much!!! I never knew my dad I was only 5 yrs old when he was taken away , I have very little memory of that day, 2 to 3 land rovers full of soldiers arrived and took him away and we never saw him again! You will always be missed dad, there isn't a day that goes by and I wished he had met his grand children!! RIP Dad xxx

Norah Auma

Daughter of Ladit Oryem Aloni(RIP), Brother of Otim Oryem(RIP), Keneri Obita (RIP), Odur Odula (PIP) , Eng Onen. With the exception of Onen, all these siblings were mercilessly killed by Amin. Eng Onen missed narrowly.

She was falsely accused by one Tindiri, a Nubian and a bus conductor with Badrudin Bus Company. Nora was picked up from her house and stories stitched together months later suggested she was killed two days later in a brutal and dehumanising manner.....

A soldier who hails from serere admitted to killing two women on order. Their remains were never located.

Further comments may be added in the comments section.

Benoni Ochan

One of the first civilian casualties. A Uganda TV personality/news reader. He was a heavy weight boxer and floored Amin many times in the boxing ring. 

He was picked from a Kampala Road restaurant and killed soon after the coup. He was a most sociable and friendly person like his father. Those who knew his father were surprised and upset by the senselessness of the killing.

Gertrude Alanyo

Gertrude Alanyo was kidnapped on the 28th of August 1972 by state agents from Gulu Army barracks - till now.

Source: New Vision Newspaper

John Oryang

John Oryang second from left next to Obita Achellam.

Killed 1971.

Magistrate in Arua, lived in Awindiri, Orpahned Daughters were: Piloya, Atim, Duka, Margaret, Rose.

The late was picked from a court session and mercilessly murdered for no apparent reason other than being born an Acholi.

Shaban Kirunda Nkutu

Nkutu was a minister under former President Milton Obote, who was overthrown by Amin in a coup, and the uncle of Amin's first wife. His 1973 killing shocked Ugandans

Nkutu's body found in mass grave after 32 years : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4215629.stm

Killed in 1973:

Wanume Kibedi Nkutu's nephew wrote this to Amin: "SHABAN NKUTU, my own uncle, was abducted from his home at Jinja in January 1973. Local citizens put v.p a determined fight to try and save him, but they were overwhelmed by the gang of assassins. The following day you ordered a statement to be put out saying that Nkutu had run away, and that anybody who saw him should inform the police. At the time of Nkutu's public abduction I was in Ghana leading my country's delegation to the OAU Liberation Committee of which I was outgoing Ch.airman. When I heard of the officia, statement alleging that Nkutu had "run away", I knew he must have been liquidated because, as every Ugandan knew, that was the kind of statement you liked to issue to cover up the work of your assassins.

Okot YY

Top Right

Executed on trumped up charges in 1977

In september 1977, Amin publicly executed 12 people he accused of plotting against his government. Those executed at the Kampala Clock Tower on september 9, in what was termed “Death in the afternoon”, included Y.Y. Okot, former chief of education; John Leji Olobo, senior relations officer of ministry of works; Elias Okidi-Menya, former general manager of lake victoria bottling co; g Garison S. Onono, former principal of bobi foundation school; Julius Peter Adupa, former teacher in lira; Ben Ongom, businessman; Abdalla Anyuru, former chairman of the uganda public service commission; lt. Ben Ogwang, former intelligence officer at malire regiment; Daniel Nsereko, former assistant commissioner of police; Peter Atua, former principal officer with luzira prison; e. N. Mutabazi, former superintendent of prisons; John Kabandize, former senior superintendent of prisons.

The notorious col. Nassur Abdallah, the central province governor, had by this stage developed a dislike for slippers, which he considered bathroom attire. Once caught wearing slippers in the city centre, apart from being made to eat them, one was spirited off to nakasero state research bureau. Countless numbers of ugandans perished in the dungeons there.

paul12 said...

This was Uganda's hour of shame
Paul London UK

Keneri Obita Achellam

Killed in 1972

Very little has been written about Amin’s victims, their lives, and the lives of their families who still endure the pain that Amin’s brutality inflicted on them.

We hope to change the mindset that people have, i.e. whenever they talk about Amin’s victims, only the manner of their deaths are discussed, but not what they stood for, or their contributions to their country Uganda.

As people who were alive during that era die one by one due to old age, natural causes or other calamities, it is our hope that some will share what they know about any of the victims herein.  Information can either be written on the comments section of the victims herein, or discreetly sent to this address  kololo8@gmail.com.

5th March 1971. 371 soldiers killed

371 Soldiers are believed to have been killed at Makindye barracks.

Frugence Musoke

Cousin of Nanziri

Genesis of murder:

According to Jane Mukasa Sserunjoji, prior to the kidnap of Nanziri, the same men from State Research Bureau had picked up Nanziri's best friend and cousin, Frugence Musoke who they allegedly used as bait to take away Nanziri from her residence without resistance or attracting attention from University students. Musoke then an accountant with East African Development Bank has never been seen again and relatives believe he was also killed. The kidnap and murder of Nanziri followed many other unexplained incidents at Makerere University that put Amin's regime under a magnifying glass.

Mr Ben Kiwanuka

Benedict Kiwanuka; Democratic Party leader, first Prime minister of Uganda and Chief Justice at the time of his death. Kiwanuka had angered Amin by releasing a European, for lack of evidence, on the ridiculous charge of stealing a telephone directory from a hotel.

Mystery of Ben Kiwanuka's Murder.

http://ugandansatheart.org/2011/03/01/mystery-of-ben-kiwanukas-murder-compare-with-kalimuzos-you-will-then-learn-more/

Ben Kiwanuka to be remembered:

http://www.weinformers.net/2011/11/08/ben-kiwanuka-to-be-remembered/


Ben Kiwanuka’s final days (from the weekly observer 20th oct 2005
http://www.ugandaobserver.com/new/archives/2005arch/features/poso/oct/poso200510202.php

Frank Kalimuzo

Vice Chancellor of Makerere

Murdered by Idi Amin in Cold Blood.

He was picked from his official residence and killed later at Makindye. Amin had on several occasions accused Kalimuyzo, who was from Bufunbiro/risoro, of being a spy for the government of Rwanda - and for Amin this suspicion was conclusive.

He was appointed as Vice Chancellor of the newly formed Makerere University by President Apollo Milton Obote. At the time, the President of Uganda doubled as Chancellor. In his brief occupancy of the office, Commerce, Forestry, Law and Technology disciplines were added to those on offer. Veterinary Medicine, which was being offered at Nairobi University, was introduced at Makerere while Music, Dance and Drama became diploma subjects. The main Library and Albert Cook Medical Library were extended in 1972. Kalimuzo was murdered during Idi Amin’s time as President. 

Mr Mateo Auko

He was the third born of seven, he studied in Pajule, he used to walk six miles to (and from) school. After finishing his junior education, he joined the Police force. He excelled and studied in the UK at the Police academy in Hendon and he studied in Sandhurst as well.

Auko (RIP) was chief of CID. Auko's death is inextricably linked to Okoya's murder, as Auko was one of the investigators into Okoya's murder.

The late Auko was killed as he travelled to Jinja. The exact location is unclear, but it is between Iganga and Jinja. This was a conspiracy (involving Amin) to cover Okoya's murderers.

Anyone with further information may add it in the comments section or send it discreetly to apinyi99@yahoo.com

Kind Regards,

Amin: Absence of the rule of law

ABSENCE OF THE RULE OF LAW

As chariman of Defence Council, Amin signed a number of decrees that overturned the rule of law.  All political institutions, such as parliament, district, or town councils, were suspended after the military coup d'etat in 1971.  All political activities were banned: the president ruled by decree.  Citizens had no political or constitutional rights.  The secutiry forces could arrest people without warrant and detain them for as long as they wished.  But they were immuned from prosecution.  They were allowed to use any force they saw fit in arresting and preventing the escape of anyone suspected of being a kondo.  In practice, the soldiers were given the right to "shoot to kill".  Military Tribunals, formerly intended to handle cases involving military discipline in the army, were given the power to try civilians as well as extra powers to try suspected subversive elements.  Many members of the tribunals had no legal training and were illiterate.  As the economy began to decay, tough decrees were aimed at "economic crimes" such as overcharging, hoarding, smuggling, corruption, fraud, illegal currency sale, diversion of essential goods to "unscheduled destinations," and so on.  Judges who were supposed to arbitrate in civil conflicts within the legal bounds of the law were intimidated.  Chief Justice and former Democratic Party leader Ben Kiwanuka was murdered by government agents who abducted him from the High Court on 21 September 1972.  Amin had publicly criticized his independent judgment, referring to him as a prominent "Masaka Citizen" with a big job in whom the government had lost confidence.......

The president of the Industrial Courts Raphael Sebugwaawo Amooti, was killed by State Research Bureau officers on 13th March 1978.

Court verdicts were not respected by the security forces.  Any lawyer who successfully defended a client in whom security men were interested was in trouble.  Not onliy was the verdict ignored by the security forces but the lawyer could also be arrested.  Enos Sebunnya is a case in point.  In 1973 he successfully defended a businessman, Samson Ddungu, who was acquitted against the wishes of a security man who had an interest in Ddungu's business.  Ddungu was shot dead and Enos Sebunnya was arrested and trotured.  he later left the country and went to live in Canada.

"Disappearances" were the most visible manifestation of the absence of rule of law.  People were arrested or abducted and killed outside established legal structures.  The Government became the major law breaker in the country and bad elements in society followed.

Mr Benayo Olak

Son of the soil from Padibe, Mr Benayo Olak standing right, wearing the grey suit his brother (John Odoki Obol 11) who is currently rwot of padibe is standing next to him. The ladies are their respective spouses.

Abducted by Amin's Soldiers on 27th January 1971, he hasn't been seen or heard from. His body hasn't been found.

Mr Benayo Olak(RIP) was the son of Mrs Mary Lamunu aka "Langole" and Rwot Obol Lacito of Padibe Kal, Lamwo county, Kitgum District. He worked as a branch manager of Barclays Bank in Jinja but later joined the Uganda Army as a "Pay Master". He was resident in Gadafi Garrison barracks in Jinja. He was abducted by Amin's soldiers when he was on the way home on 27th January 1971. This was the last time his family heard from him. Although under detention he was able to telephone to say that they had been rounded up and were being detained by Amin's soldiers. His body has never been found.

Benayo olak was the elder brother to Mr Dent Ochan Ojara (RIP)who worked as an operations manager at Hima cement factory.Benayo Olak is survived by his wife Mrs Gertrude Adoch Olak and sons Mr Charles Otto-Olak, Mr John Odoki-Olak Mr Peter Olak and several Grand Children.

(Please enter further details/ prayers/ euologies/ dedications/ tributes etc in the comments section)

Kay Adroa Amin

Kay Adroa Amin; Divorced wife and blood relative to Amin:

She was ex-president Idi Amin's wife and pride. Then her body was found, dismembered.
Who did it? http://allafrica.com/stories/200706180593.html


Kay (Left)
http://kay-amin.blogspot.com/

 

Amin's other wives:  Via link below

http://atrocities-of-amin.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/aminss-wives.html

Odur Odula

Killed by Amin's men

Amin: Disregard for Human Rights

DISREGARD FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.

Human rights as articulated by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights were completely disregarded and violated in Uganda during Amin's tenure.....   The right to freedom of opinion and association was violated. Political parties, student organizations, trade unions, and all popular associations were prohibited.  Although the major religious sects (Roman Catholicism, Islam and Protestantism) were allowed to operate, minor religiuous sects were banned.  The right to freedom of movement was violated.  All Ugandans travelling out of the country required permits, even though many were in possession of passports.  Government agents could search private houses without warrant.  As a rule, they helped themselves to private property in the houses they searched.

Like all dictators, Amin was scared of writers.  Byron Kawadwa, who wrote a play that Amin thought ridiculed the person of the president, was killed without trial, as was Father Clement Kiggundu, editor of Munno, the oldest newpaper in Uganda, Kiggundu had publicized the anguish of women whose husbands had been killed.  There was no freedom of the press.  The government controlled the dissemination of information, and all newspapers were required to toe the government line.  Foreign newspatpers were banned.  In 1975 a prominent lawyer, Elizofani Mawagi, was detained and killed for writing a letter published in a newspaper requesting that Ugandans be permitted to read foreign newspapers.  Letters were opened in the postal system and read by members of the State Research Bureau, thus limiting detailed written communication.

OFFICIAL COMPLICITY

The picture below was shot by Reimar Oltmanns.

German journalist and author. He was 1970-1972 Spokesman of the Lower Saxony Minister of Education Peter von Oertzen.

OFFICIAL COMPLICITY

Public perceptions that the government was either a party to various acts of violence or had knowledge of them were reinforced by official indifference in cases involving violence meted out to civilians by the security forces.  Amin told his soldiers that the gun was their bread winner, their mother, their father, their great protector.  Many who heard his speech thought he was giving licence to the security forces to get whatever they   wanted from civilians by violence.

An inquiry in July 1971 by Justice Jeffrey Jones into the murder of two Americans.  nicholas Stroh and Robert Siedle in Mbarara Barracks implicated three army officers, Captain Taban, Captain Juma Sabuni and Major Sabuni Ali, but the officers were not punished.  Indeed, the latter two were subsequently promoted to ministerial posts.  The Ugandan government did not publicly accept the responsibility but paid compensation to the relatives of the dead.  An inquiry into the fatal shooting on 6 march 1976 of a Makerere University student, Paul Serwanga, by a member of the Public Safety Unit was interfered with.  The Chariman of the inquiry, Professor Brian Langlands, was expelled from the country although he had worked in Uganda for over twenty years.  A new compliant chairman was selected and reported on 12 November 1976 that if university rules had been followed, no shooting would have taken place.  The gunman who killed Paul Lwanga was not punished.  When on 16th February 1977 Archbishop Janani Luwum and two cabinet ministers were reportedly killed in a car accident, contradictions in the official reports exposed government complicity in the deaths and the public believed that the three had been murdered by government agents.

Mr James Apinyi

Uganda Police Officer

Mr James Labalpinyi Apinyi (1936-1971) RIP

Born in 1936 at Laguti Lacek-Ocot to Manaci Lacona Dire (Son of Rwot Awic)of Payira Kal and Maria Ladwong. Apinyi attended various schools including St Alosius Virika, Fort Portal where he obtained his Cambridge School Certificate. He was one of few young ugandans who were selected to join the Uganda Police force as Assistant inspector-trainee. He qualified in 1959 with distinction. His diligence aptitude and good conduct soon earned him a scholarship to do a crash Officers course at Catterick in England. He was then promoted to an Assistant Supreintendant of Police (ASP). He was again promoted to Senior Assistant Superitendant of Police (SASP) in 1969 and transferred to the Special Forces.

Apinyi was abducted by Amin's Soldiers in the early months of 1971, dragged away and has never been seen again. His remains have not been found up to today. Apinyi was a prompt Officer, pleasant to work with and was liked by his superiors and subordinates alike. He was a gentle and understanding person. His Family, relatives and friends have missed him since that sad morning.

Below: 2nd from Left or right: On his wedding day in 1966: Apinyi was killed by Amin in 1971.

To this very day, the where abouts of Mr Apinyi's remains are unknown.

The bodies of most of Amin's victims were clandestinely disposed of or mutilated beyond recognition, never to be recovered by their families. The vast majority of the victims are unidentifiable for this reason.

http://apinyi.blogspot.com/

Lt. Ben Ogwang

, former intelligence officer at Malire Regiment

Ben Ogwang reads a confession / "plot" he was killed shortly afterwards.

Basil Bataringaya

Obote's Minister of Internal Affairs

Basil Bataringaya was dismembered alive outside the town of Mbarara and his severed head displayed on the end of a pole. His wife too was killed soon after, allegely by Juma Bahir, the Governor of Western Province.

Source: Uganda Since Independence. A Story of Unfulfilled Hopes.

Africa World Press, Inc.

P.O.Box 1892

Trenton, N.J.08607

@ Phares Mutibwa, 1992

First American edition 1992

Originated by C. Hurst & Co. (Publishers)Ltd. London England

ISBN: 0-86543-357 PB

Major Ojul Ogol

Murdered by Amin in 1979

Mr Marino Paito

Murdered by Amin in August 1971. He was based in Jinja.

Mr Apollo Lawoko

Survived cruelty dehumanisation and torture. We thank God he survived to tell the tale in his book. THE DUNGEONS OF NAKASERO
http://www.bokmaskinen.se/index.php?page=2&link=2&view=767

The dungeons of NakaseroWodOkello LawokoCirkapris: 250:-Utgivningsår: 2005Språk: engelskaAntal sidor: 336Utförande: limbundenISBN: 91-7910-691Beställningsadress: WodOkello LawokoStångholmsbacken 56, 4tr127 40 SkärholmenTelefon: 08-710 38 65





The real Amin:
http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1307958/real-idi-amin

Eng P.M.O Onen

Was arrested by Amin's henchmen, ArchBishop Luwum's intervention saved his life.

He survived by going into exile. His account of what took place is in his book "The diary of an obedient servant during misrule"

JANyeko Publishing Centre Ltd

ISBN 9970-510-02-0

.

Mr Sirayo Yona Nyeko

New book reveals impact of Amin’s bloody rule

By George Murumba
15^th Aug 2011:

The new book

The daughter of one of former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin’s many victims has written a book called ‘The Silent Sunset’ which talks about her late father Mr. Sirayo Yona Nyeko, a prominent Acholi from Kitgum who was one of the people killed in 1977 during Idi Amin’s reign of terror.

In an email to Uganda Correspondent, the author, Ms Jennifer Nyeko-Jones, who is a practising Lawyer in the United Kingdom says, “…the book is a biography of my father Sirayo Yona Nyeko, one of Amin’s victims, who we lost in 1977”.

She then sets out the things that inspired her to write ‘The Silent Sunset’. “…I have felt the need to preserve his [her father’s] memory, and by so doing, write his story”, author says. The other reason, she says, is that “…very little has been written about Amin’s victims, their lives, and the lives of their families who still endure the pain that Amin’s brutality inflicted on them”.

Finally, Jennifer says, she “…wanted to change the mindset that people have, that whenever they talk about Amin’s victims, only the manner of their deaths are discussed, but not what they stood for, or their contributions to their country Uganda”

Keneri Odoch

, Treasurer of Gulu ALG Gulu

Killed by Amin 1972

He was arrested at a meeting in Kitgum.  He was thrown in Karumba bridge.  Killed together with Okot Tobias

Father of Pastor Dick and Richard Odoch who has forgiven Amin. Richard's other brother is Col.W Ochora.

(Please add details)

Photo: Mr. Dan Woodings at Karuma Bridge in 1979, one of the many places where bodies of murdered victims were disposed.

Dan Wooding and Ray Barnett at Karuma Falls, Uganda,

John Tidhamulala

Secretary, National Insurance Corporation.

in early 1973, members of the Public Safety Unit burst into the corporations building in Kampala, arrested the Cariman Mr Wekiro and te Secretary Mr Tidhamulala. They hit them repeatedly in front of their staff, forced them into waiting cars. They drove to the HQters of PSU naguru. By the time they arrived the secretary was dead. Wekiro the chairman survived.

Dr George Ebine

Mulago Hospital

Killed

Major Emmanuel Ogwal fled to Dr Ebine's house in Nakasero. He was pursued and from a vantage point on the roof, he wiped out six soldiers in a Land Rover plus the reinforcement that followed. A roop carrier despatched from Malire afterwards overturned at clock tower, Entebbe road roundabout killing eleven men. By the time the house was blown up, 25 rebels had died, Ogwal had ran out of bullets and was killed. Dr Ebine who had no idea that Ogwal had taken refuge in his house, wask killed in an operating theatre at Mulago Hospital. A patient he was operating on was left to die.

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