President Museveni Rejects Proposal to License Institute in Memory of Idi Amin

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has firmly rejected a request to license an institute in memory of the infamous former President, Idi Amin Dada. The appeal came from the former Member of Parliament for Obongi West, Kaps Fungaroo, who had sought to establish an institution to commemorate Amin’s legacy. However, President Museveni responded by urging the Minister of Education, Janet Kataha Museveni, to deny the request.

Idi Amin Dada, who served as Uganda’s third President from 1971 to 1979, is widely recognized as one of the most brutal despots in modern world history. His rule was marked by extreme brutality, authoritarianism, and numerous human rights abuses. Amin’s regime came to an end when he was ousted by the Tanzanian Army and Ugandan rebel forces.

Despite Amin’s dark legacy, some have advocated for recognizing any positive aspects of his rule. Nevertheless, President Museveni vehemently disagreed with Fungaroo’s proposal. In his letter to the Minister of Education, Museveni asserted that such an institution would be inappropriate, given that Amin’s government was illegal, and Amin was an unconstitutional leader. He argued that Amin was responsible for a multitude of atrocities, including the killing of Acholi and Lango soldiers in Mbarara, the execution of prisoners in Mutukula prison, and the murders of notable figures like Ben Kiwanuka and Basil Bataringaya.

Moreover, Museveni contended that Amin’s expulsion of Indian entrepreneurs had devastating economic consequences for Uganda. He highlighted that these entrepreneurs left Uganda for countries like Canada and the United Kingdom, thereby inflicting severe damage on the nation’s economy. He cautioned against licensing an institute to promote or study Amin’s work, advocating that history should not be glorified. Fungaroo, on the other hand, maintains his stance that history should be examined from various perspectives.