Kampala, Uganda | By Michael Wandati | The family of the late Ugandan dictator, Idi Amin, has declared that his remains will not be repatriated to Uganda. Idi Amin, ousted from power through force, died on August 16, 2003, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Amin’s son, Amin Lumumba, revealed receiving numerous requests for his father’s remains to be brought back to Uganda, with calls for a national funeral in his honor.
Nevertheless, Lumumba said at the time of Amin’s passing in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, he was the eldest son on site watching over him at King Faisal Memorial Specialist Hospital, and consulted and took decisions with His Majesty the late Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, the late Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, the Royal court, the Government of Uganda, religious leaders in the two countries, well wishers from around the world, Saudi Police and General intelligence service, and Amin’s entire family.
“Therefore, the final decision to lay him to rest indefinitely in Saudi Arabia was not one that we arrived at lightly,” he observed, adding, “In fact I had to take into account many political, religious and national considerations.”
He added: “Meanwhile, given how my late mothers grave was vandalised in Uganda by ignorant local hate politics of the 1980’s, it was of prime significance for me and our entire family to try and ensure that my late father indeed rests in peace for eternity.” .
“I hope Ugandans will understand all the above implications that were factored in our decision, and we believe this is also good for keeping at bay hate speech politics by the shrinking few who see themselves as his political opponents.”
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According to Human Rights Watch, between 100,000 and 500,000 people were killed during Amin’s rule from 1971 when he overthrew Milton Obote in a coup to 1979 when Ugandan exiles and Tanzanian armed forces got rid of the dictator.
President Museveni recently rejected the idea of creating the Idi Amin Memorial Institute, saying his rule was “clearly illegal,” adding, “It is not acceptable to license an institute to promote or study the work of Idi Amin.”
Mr. Museveni further said, “It is enough that forgiving Ugandans forgave the surviving colleagues of Idi Amin. Let that history be forgotten.”
