President Yoweri Museveni decreed to reject the proposal to start an institute in memory of Idi Amin Dada, citing unconstitutionality of Amin’s regime and the crimes the former president committed while in power.
Museveni’s decree follows a letter from the former Obongi West MP Kaps Fungaroo requesting education minister Hon. Janet Kataha to consider licensing an institute in memory of Idi Amin.
However, upon stumbling on the request, President Museveni wrote to the minister (who happens to be his wife) on October 5, 2023 directing her to thwart the request because “it is wrong and it should be rejected.”
Museveni also maintains that Amin committed so many atrocities including killing Acholi and Lango soldiers in Mbarara and prisoners in Mutukula prison, not forgetting Ben Kiwanuka, and Basil Bataringaya.
Idi Amin’s 8-year rule (1971-1979) was characterized by tyranny, suspension of the legislature, gross human rights abuses especially extrajudicial killings. Consequently, many prominent Ugandans fled into exile leaving behind a failing economy.
“We do not have to talk Amin destroying the Ugandan economy by his ignorant expulsion of our Indian entrepreneurs that went away to enrich Canada and the United Kingdom,” he said.
“Therefore, it is not acceptable to license an institute to promote or study the work of Amin. It is enough that the forgiving Ugandans forgave the surviving colleagues of Idi Amin. Let that history be forgotten,” he directed.
