Dear Editor, As we celebrate Independence day and eulogize Apollo Milton Obote for his central role as the person to whom Uganda was entrusted on 9th October 1962, it is quite sad to read the story on developments about the Obote II government and how it was toppled ( monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Reviews/Obote-trusted--Acholi---him/691232-3408372-qalinfz/index.html ). The disturbing part is the extent of the sectarianism that Obote openly orchestrated during his governance. What is clear is that Obote has so eloquently hidden from facing the serious horrors he and his tribal henchmen orchestrated. How come the entire discussion on the Obote II regime is about Acholi's and Langi's and that isn't being persistently rejected with utter contempt? In that government, they were the rulers, the judges, the lawyers, the police, the army, the civil service, the executioners, the murderers, the looters, the henchmen, the genocide perpetrators, basically every evil imaginable was perpetrated by that regime right? Everything that they previously purported about Amin, they actually committed it themselves on Ugandans once they were in power. I would have expected a firm and total questioning and eternal condemnation of their debauchery and sectarianism. Unfortunately the matter isn't being given the attention it deserves. It isn't even being brought up as the cancer this nation has suffered ever since Obote first appointed hinself president in 1966. What also isn't being said is that the coup that toppled him in 1971 was similarly about him trying to purge other tribes from the army in favor of his people. This is contained in a recent Daily Monitor article by one Mr. Mugabe. His actions backfired when other soldiers resisted the purge and ultimately ousted the Obote regime before putting Amin at gun point and forcing him to become president. So wether deliberately or otherwise, today there is a propensity to minimize the seriousness of the problems that Obote brought to this country. He and his lietenants dodge blame so well by quickly pointing their fingers at President Idi Amin and calling the Field Marshal the vilest names found in the oxford dictionary. Names that Obote himself actually qualifies for given his actual record. The Obote whitewashing has reached the point where he was awarded national hero status some years back by the very people who fought his government. The NRA Ten Point Program is basically a summarized indictment of Obote's dangerous governance. How can such a tribalist criminal be considered "father of the nation" when he only cared about his grip on power and the tribal support (Acholi's/Langi's) whom he hoped would guarantee his stay in power. And we are not yet even talking about all the murders and extrajudicial killings that were taking place literally on a daily basis during his reign, to a point where a special bus nicknamed "mpaawo atalikaaba" was roaming the streets of Kampala every morning pickibg dead bodies from the night before. Let us make a brief comparison.here. Though I don't agree with their story, Amnesty International states that Amin killed 100,000 people, but then the same human rights organization also says that Obote slaughtered 500,000 Ugandans in Luweero alone. When you people fail to expose the gravity of what that says about Obote, you normalize, sanitize and whitewash the biggest criminal this country has ever had. Obote's crimes are at minimum five times whatever accusations are levelled against Amin. What happened during the Obote II regime has never ever happened in Uganda before. When we look at all those skeletons and mass graves littering the countryside, one should who else has ever committed worse mass murders than that? The entire Liberation hoax isn't being properly exposed and held to account. There is no better example of stupid arrivalism than when these people took over the country in 1979. Nile Hotel built by President Amin for international guests and public functions, became their home, torture center, and burial grounds for those they eliminated. Each Ugandan exile now wanted a room and free service in the hotel. In fact it became the defacto government office where they also engaged in the most lewd behaviour. Documents from the 1986 Commission of Inquiry tell a most disturbing story about the Obote regime, but I'm surprised at how it is all being subtly brushed under the rag, resulting in Obote being branded a hero by youths who aren't being properly told about the dark reality. Isn't that how history risks repeating itself? Why isn't there a Luweero Bush war movie, or Obote II movie for example? Interviews with survivors like Major Roland Kakooza Mutaale whose submission to the 1986 Inquiry I read, and thousands of others who live quietly with their incredible horrific personal experiences. Such records serve an important purpose for this country. It keeps the social consciousness alert to dangers and excesses that oyr history should teach. Meanwhile, how come a whole Inspector General of Police from the Obote II regime is walking scot-free today, and casually telling us how he tried to defend that murderous Obote regime from collapse? Is it a good thing or a bad thing he was doing? Maybe he should then tell us to what extent was his support/advice on the killings of Ugandans left, right, and center. Where is Justice on such people? We are reading a story from a possible murderer, or accessory to murder and genocide who is smiling undeservedly, probably because he is surprised he still has his freedom. If Mr. Chris Rwakasisi could be jailed because he was advisor to Obote during that time, then what about this gentleman? The whole ideologically sectarian structure that served Obote must share the collective responsibility, or prove to Ugandans specifically what they did in their individual capacity to prevent the horrific mass murders that took place on a daily basis all over the country under their watch. Below are some links to articles that make the comparison between Obote and Amin with one showing how Milton, the biggest murderer in Uganda, has never been exposed for the psychopath killer that he really was. You the media, need to wake up.
Best Regards, Hussein Lumumba Amin. Kampala, Uganda. Tel: +256-750-129999 Facebook: facebook.com/hussein.juruga Twitter: @LumumbaAmin ----------------------- - Article comparing Amin vs Obote: exiledonline.com/war-nerd-onward-christian-soldiers/ - Article on Amin and Obote death toll numbers: combatgenocide.org/?page_id=91
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