Zimpapers Logo

The Rhodesia Herald, 26 January 1971
UGANDA’S President Milton Obote has been overthrown. A military government has been proclaimed, headed by the Army and Air Force Commander, Major General Idi Amin.

Another coup leader, the Inspector-General of the police, Mr E W Oryema, said in a broadcast that he would serve under General Amin.

A radio statement blamed Dr Obote for corruption and tribalism. Sporadic firing continued late this afternoon.

Government Ministers are reported to have been arrested. Thousands of cheering people thronged the streets of Kampala, celebrating the coup, while the ex-President arrived in Nairobi by air tonight from Singapore, where he attended the Commonwealth conference. He was taken to a Nairobi hotel. Police kept reporters away and prevented cameramen taking pictures of him.

There were reports of fierce fighting at Jinja, about 50 miles east of Kampala where troops reported to be loyal to Dr Obote are stationed.

Fighting was also reported at a Police college here, where troops occupied a police barrack. There have been rumours of coup and counter-coup, and one report said there had been an attempt to kill General Amin.

The British Government has urged the 7 000 British residents in Uganda to stay at home. One broadcast — believed to be by Gen Amin — said he had accepted the task of leader on the understanding that there would be an early return to civilian rule.

The broadcast said political prisoners would be freed, national elections held and the Government would again become interested in the people.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

• Every nation has its own diverse historical narrative that can best be described as good and bad. The doom and gloom narrative is not exclusive to African countries as Western analysts portray. At some point or other, each nation goes through good and/or rough patches.
• Taking responsibility for past actions no matter their ugliness, is the first step towards resolving problems.
• Thus Uganda and Africa cannot pretend that Idi Amin was not part of its historical narrative from 1971 to 1979. It would be as good as saying that it was not a British colony.
• Acknowledging the power grab and the atrocities he committed are part of that healing process.
• It is now 50 years since Amin (1925-2003), grabbed power from Milton Obote on January 25, 1971 while Obote was attending the Commonwealth Heads of State and Government Meeting in Singapore. Uganda has moved on — falling and rising along the way.
• In 1975, Amin was also nominated rotational chairperson of the Organisation of African Unity (now African Union).
• After decades of struggle to gain independence and democratic rule, Africa continues to be bullied and punished by former colonisers, who deliberately choose to forget their own atrocities on former colonies. Some of the coups d’état and insurgencies are sponsored by former colonisers, who still want to be in control of the continent’s resources.
• It is interesting that Amin, initially supported by Western countries, shifted his allegiance and ended up aligning himself to Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi, Zaire’s Mobutu Sese Seko, the former Soviet Union and East Germany. What caused the shift?