Amin’s son apologises for his father's atrocities

Idi Amin was president of Uganda between 1971 and 1979.
Publish Date: Jun 03, 2015

newvision

By Richard Drasimaku           

        

JEFFERY Amin was a primary school boy, unaware of what was going on in the country when his father Idi Amin was the president of Uganda. 

But it has taken the 48-year-old courage to come out amongst the over 60 children of the former head of state to say sorry to the nation for the atrocities committed between 1971 and 1979.

He came face to face with Baptist Jotim, a clan chief from Acholi whose father died in the hands of the notorious regime’s soldiers in 1976.

This was during a reconciliation, peace, unity and development dialogue that brought together 102 cultural, religious and opinion leaders from West Nile, Acholi and Lango at Heritage Courts Hotel in Arua town.

Notable among the traditional leaders were the Alur Prime Minister Edwin Wathum, Ephraim Waringu, the Thebiz of Kebu Rigangi, Mathew Otto, the Lands and Mobilisation minister of Acholi and Benny Ocan, the Lango prime minister.

The others were Silas Akonyu a Kakwa elder, Stephen Drani a Madi paramount chief and his adviser Olga Tabea and the host Hanuna Ndema, the prime minister of the formative Lugbara cultural institution.

 

Chief Baptist Jotim (left) sheds tears as Jeffery Amin (R) apologises for the killing of his father by regime soldiers in 1976. Photo by Richard Drasimaku.

The eminent leaders discussed the events that led to discord between former friends Amin and Milton Obote that eventually evolved into hatred between the Acholi, Lango and the West Nile people with devastating revenge massacres.

Colourful street performances by Acholi traditional dancers through Arua town punctuated the two-day event organised by Uhuru Institute of Social Development.

But the mood was sombre as tearful Jotim narrated how some soldiers from West Nile went to their home in Kitgum to warn his father that he was on a wanted list of people to be killed.

They drove him to Malaba border post and told him to flee to Kenya but he refused and returned home. Four days later other soldiers came to abduct him. The next thing they heard was that dad was dead.

Jotim says he was overwhelmed by anger so much that when Amin died in Saudi Arabia in 2003, he refused to accompany Amin’s former Acholi wife Ester to a prayer meeting that was held at Amin’s ancestral home in Koboko.

It was a narrative that caused remorseful Jeffery to walk to Jotim to say sorry and apologise on behalf of the family for any wrong doing to the nation during his late father’s reign.

 

Jeffey Amin (L) joined by Acholi traditional dancers in the peace march through Arua town. Photo by Richard Drasimaku

As bishop Alfred Achur of West Lango Anglican diocese joined to counsel the duo, another wronged cleric Sheikh Adam Ayub rose up to confess his hatred for the West Nile people in general arising from an attempted slaughter of his father Ayub who was the former Khadi of Lango.

“I became a soldier to avenge that incident but today I want to forgive all West Nilers. We were fighting a war that was not ours,” Ayub said. To which Jotim added; “We are here because something went wrong. We have brought all the wishes of our people that we should burry all the past differences and unite for peace.”

Achur assured Jeffery that none of the people who gathered at Heritage Courts has a grudge against him or his family.

“Jeffery came openly to seek forgiveness on behalf of his dad because he is a good Muslim with strong faith,” the bishop said.

Ndema said it was needless to talk about past atrocities because they were simply too many. He emphasised that the leaders should make sure reconciliation goes to the grass roots.

Akonyu meanwhile stressed the importance of re-cultivating the friendship and cooperation between the different communities in the Northern region that existed before the Amin-Obote fallout so as to guarantee a better future for the young children.

“As a mother, we appeal to our husbands to join hands with us in upbringing our children in the spirit of reconciliation and forgiveness. We have mourned enough because of disharmony, let us support each other so that we change the face of Northern Uganda,” Tabea urged.

Keith Savage

Keith Savage was blown up together with Bruce Mckenzie in the same plane.

Bruce Mckenzie

He was the only non-African ever to serve in independent Kenya’s Cabinet. And it was not in a ceremonial post, but in the critical Ministry of Agriculture during the nation’s formative years. He was very close to President Jomo Kenyatta and some of his most powerful Ministers, but he was also close to the secret services of South Africa, Britain and Israel, relationships that would eventually cost him his life in rather mysterious circumstances. - 

See more at: http://www.kenyahistory.co.ke/personalities.php?pg=personalities&id=43#sthash.L2ko02Is.dpuf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Mackenzie_%28Kenyan_politician%29

McKenzie was presented a stuffed Kenyan cob (antelope) that contained a bomb.  

Terpil told others the story that "Amin's speech ran so long that I was afraid the damned thing would
explode while the plane was still at Kampala airport.  So I had to
send a guy aboard to set the time back another half-hour."

Joseph Bitwari

Joseph Bitwari (RIP)

By Benson Katundu-Byarugaba:  Iddi Amin killed my Uncle Joseph Bitwari former District Commissioner , Bugisu District!! 

Mr Alex (Alija) Latim

Killed by Amin's Men 1979

It should be remembered that the late Bataringaya (also murdered by Amin) was the Leader of the Opposition (1962-1964) as a Democratic (DP) Party Secretary General who crossed to the ruling party, the Uganda Peoples’ Congress (UPC). After his decision to cross, Alex Latim (RIP) took the mantle and martialed the Opposition through.

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.

Theresa Nanziri Bukenya

The Sad Demise of Theresa Nanziri Bukenya

It was on the evening of June 22nd 1976 when Idi Amin's regime committed a heinous act. Theresa Nanziri Bukenya, then a warden of Africa Hall at Makerere University, was picked from her residence by men from the dreaded State Research Bureau. Two days later Nanziri's dead body was found with bullet wounds on the neck, at River Ssezibwa. Nanziri had joined along list of others who suffered cold death at the hands of Idi Amin.

Bear in mind that she was 7 months pregnant at the time of her murder

Who was Nanziri?

http://www.ugpulse.com/articles/daily/homepage.asp?ID=574

Bryon Kawadwa

Playwright, Artiste and director of National Theater. Murdered by Amin's henchmen.

The fate of Kawadwa at the hands of Amin's agents was not without its tragic irony. 

Several Baganda theatre artists welcomed Amin's coup, as first. Popular theatre artists like Kiyingi and Kawadwa, and literary dramatists like Serumaga, thought Amin would reinstate the Kabaka, (who had been deposed from his traditional Kingship by Obote). Although the Kabaka was not reinstalled, in the early years of Amin's regime, Kawadwa's productions did seem to spearhead a Baganda renaissance.

Eventually, however, Amin's paranoia took offence at one of Kawadwa's most popular plays. St Charles Lwanga, first produced in 1970, was a play about the nineteenth century Baganda Christians who were martyred by Kabaka Mwanga. Kawadwa decided to revive the play in 1976 and owing to its Christian content, sought and received approval for the performance from Muslim Amin's presidential office.

In 1977, the year of the performance, Amin's notorious Bureau of State security outraged Ugandan and world opinion by murdereing the Anglican Archbishop, Janani Luwum. Suddenly Kawadwa's play was transformed from a relatively innocuous exploration of nineteenth century Ugandan history into a politically sensitive allegory on contemporary state terrorists. Soon afterwards, Byron and several members of his theatre company were picked up by the bureau of state security and their burnt bodies were discovered in the bush 33 km outside Kampala. Kawadwa's fate seems all the more pathetic because he was not an oppositional author of a consciously ideological stamp; it was just that his ability to ceate theatrical forms with a wide popular appeal outside Amin's permitted propaganda machinery eventually seemed a threat to the state.

Mr Charles Oboth Ofumbi

Left, murdered by Amin 1977.

The killing of archbishop janani luwum, lands minister and former inspector general of police erinayo oryema and interior minister charles oboth-ofumbi on february 17, 1977, marked the climax of amin’s bloody repression.

After these murders, amin took a ruthless and sweeping decision: all remaining acholi and langi soldiers were to be eliminated. After all, he had allegedly uncovered a plot to overthrow his government in which the archbishop and the two ministers were a part.

Ofumbi knew too much to stay alivePublish Date: Apr 23, 2013

http://charlesobothofumbi.blogspot.co.uk/

The family of former Internal Affairs Minister, Charles Oboth Ofumbi who was brutally murdered on February 16, 1977, speaks out for the first time about the pain and the tragedy they went through.

By Charles Etukuri

At the family home in Nyamalogo, Mulanda in Tororo district, Ofumbi’s widow, Elizabeth, recalls the last conversation she had with her husband.

“I had travelled to pick our children who were studying in St. Andrews Turi in Kenya when he called me. He sounded different on the phone and he said he was going for a stormy cabinet meeting but was not so sure he would come out alive. ‘Pray for me and should anything happen, please make sure that you give the children the gift of education,’ were his last words to me,” she recalls.

With those words, Ofumbi drove to Nile Mansions (now Kampala Serena Hotel) where President Idi Amin had called a special ministerial meeting. Amin had invited diplomats, the press and religious leaders.

Read more via this link:  http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/641953-ofumbi-knew-too-much-to-stay-alive.html

Mr Erinayo Oryema

Murdered in 1977

On 16 February 1977, Oryema, Archbishop Janani Luwum and Interior Minister Charles Oboth Ofumbi were arrested. The same day Idi Amin convened a rally in Kampala with the three accused present. A few other "suspects" were paraded forth to read out "confessions" implicating the three men for planning to stage a coup. The next day, Radio Uganda announced that the three had been killed when the car transporting them to an interrogation center had collided with another vehicle. The accident, Radio Uganda reported, had occurred when the victims had tried to overpower the driver in an attempt to escape.^[2] Henry Kyemba, Minister of Health in Amin's government, later wrote in his book A State of Blood, that "The bodies were bullet-riddled. The archbishop had been shot through the mouth and at least three bullets in the chest. The ministers had been shot in a similar way but one only in the chest and not through the mouth. Oryema had a bullet wound through the leg."^[3]

According to the later testimony of witnesses, the victims had been taken to an army barracks, where they were bullied, beaten and finally shot.^[4]

Erinayo Oryema was by the time of his death the longest serving minister in Amin’s government. The murder of Oryema and Luwum had profound effects. Their deaths made many realise that no one was safe, and shortly thereafter several of Amin’s ministers defected or fled to exile.

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,