{UAH} Rev Amos Kasibante tells UAH Facebookers about the fall of Idi Amin
|
4:23 AM |
No comments |
''There are few times I have felt as free as I once did towards the end of the Amin regime. The war between Uganda and Tanzania was on. In October 1978, Amin soldiers had invaded Tanzania, blew up a bridge, killed people, and looted property including cows which we loaded on trucks and taken to Bombo. Tanzania retaliated sending its troops to invade Uganda alongside some Ugandan guerrilla groups. I was in Masaka (Kibinge to be exact) in February 1979 and I retreated to the safe distance of Kampala. Masaka was captured the night I left.
Amin was sending reinforcements to Masaka in the form of APCs, tanks and other heavy military weaponry. They were moved at night and presumably Amin did not want the people to see them. So, he declared a curfew which ran from seven in the evening to seven in the morning. Ugandans born after 1986 know nothing about curfews. And should you be caught walking about after 7pm, you either received a thorough beating or lost your life.
People lived in an atmosphere of fear. I realised then in my teens how oppressive fear can be. I lived in a house at Kawempe on the main road close to Dr Sembeguya's hospital (he was killed during the Amin regime). By 7pm, you could not see a soul outside. Some people entered their houses and switched off the big lights. People even feared to talk inside their houses.
One evening a surge of defiance flowed through my entire system. I went outside and climbed to the roof. I could see as far as Bwaise. It must have been 9 o'clock but not a sole in sight. No cars moved. Then I heard heavy metal moving slowly, making a ccrrrccrrr zzzzzz vuuuu sound. It was the sound of military tanks and APCs moving to the battle zone. Each of them had just one light flashing – a dim red light. This was the movement of death. I could see, but could not be seen. Everything around was dark. I wished that moment that I had a bazooka so I could blow up the tanks. At the same time I felt so free, so defiant.I still think about that night and feelings of both anger - deep anger, and freedom come flowing back.
This peasant thing in relation to the war in the Luwero Triangle has been exaggerated. Many rich people were involved and made their contribution. What about Kaaya?The party played by rich and influential people was played down. There are names that I don't want to mention.
Many peasants (perhaps the majority) were on the run. Many young men were recruited as were boys and girls. Many people in Luwero who were bibanja holders or owners of freehold land can hardly be called peasants. Was Haji Nadduli a peasant? It is the war in Luwero Triangle we are talking about.''
--
-- Amin was sending reinforcements to Masaka in the form of APCs, tanks and other heavy military weaponry. They were moved at night and presumably Amin did not want the people to see them. So, he declared a curfew which ran from seven in the evening to seven in the morning. Ugandans born after 1986 know nothing about curfews. And should you be caught walking about after 7pm, you either received a thorough beating or lost your life.
People lived in an atmosphere of fear. I realised then in my teens how oppressive fear can be. I lived in a house at Kawempe on the main road close to Dr Sembeguya's hospital (he was killed during the Amin regime). By 7pm, you could not see a soul outside. Some people entered their houses and switched off the big lights. People even feared to talk inside their houses.
One evening a surge of defiance flowed through my entire system. I went outside and climbed to the roof. I could see as far as Bwaise. It must have been 9 o'clock but not a sole in sight. No cars moved. Then I heard heavy metal moving slowly, making a ccrrrccrrr zzzzzz vuuuu sound. It was the sound of military tanks and APCs moving to the battle zone. Each of them had just one light flashing – a dim red light. This was the movement of death. I could see, but could not be seen. Everything around was dark. I wished that moment that I had a bazooka so I could blow up the tanks. At the same time I felt so free, so defiant.I still think about that night and feelings of both anger - deep anger, and freedom come flowing back.
This peasant thing in relation to the war in the Luwero Triangle has been exaggerated. Many rich people were involved and made their contribution. What about Kaaya?The party played by rich and influential people was played down. There are names that I don't want to mention.
Many peasants (perhaps the majority) were on the run. Many young men were recruited as were boys and girls. Many people in Luwero who were bibanja holders or owners of freehold land can hardly be called peasants. Was Haji Nadduli a peasant? It is the war in Luwero Triangle we are talking about.''
--
Disclaimer:Everyone posting to this Forum bears the sole responsibility for any legal consequences of his or her postings, and hence statements and facts must be presented responsibly. Your continued membership signifies that you agree to this disclaimer and pledge to abide by our Rules and Guidelines.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com or Abbey Semuwemba at: abbeysemuwemba@gmail.com.
Related Posts:
{UAH} Allan/Pojim/WBK: Standard Digital News - South Sudan's president, rebel leader should face sanctions: UN panel- SV: {UAH} I SUGGESTED IT BEFORE, I DO IT AGAIN!!!
- {UAH} Africa’s Urban Opportunity
- {UAH} EU boss tasks Affande Tear gas for an explanation on his recent outbursts..".no handing over power" to mukene
- {UAH} Pojim/WBK: Magufuli's crackdown on NIDA rot was long overdue - Opinion/Editorial | The Citizen
0 comments:
Post a Comment