{UAH} AKENA ADOKO A MAN THAT SHOWS UP WHEN EVER THERE IS A TOMB IN OUR COUNTRY

Written by Kintu Nyago

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Last Updated: 10 March 2010

When discussing Akena Adoko’s legacy, it’s the period from 1962 to 1971 that I will focus on. To paraphrase the then Makerere-based Prof. Mazrui, Akena Adoko was “… the second most powerful civilian in Uganda after the Head of State,” To appreciate this point, let’s recall that he combined the roles of chief ideologue and spymaster of the Obote I regime.

His influence was heightened through his being Obote’s first cousin. Against this background, the questions I intend to address are; how and in whose interest Adoko applied this power.

Being one of Uganda’s first lawyers, he offered the ruling UPC the legal advice associated with the misrule of this period. As head of the General Service Unit, the regime’s security apparatus, Adoko was responsible for Obote’s rehabilitation of Idi Amin, who had been recommended for disgraceful discharge from the Army by the departing colonial governor, basing on Amin’s atrocious misconduct in Karamoja.

The placement of officials as critical as Army commander, depends considerably on the vetting process of state security organs. Amin’s retention was for selfish political calculations, intended to retain Obote and Adoko in power against the wishes of the people of Uganda.

More effects of Adoko’s counsel to Obote manifest in the latter’s response to the Daudi Ocheng parliamentary motion of 1966. This was a vote of no confidence in Obote’s administration, based on gold and ivory smuggling allegations that implicated Obote and Amin.

Obote’s response deliberately collapsed constitutional rule and disintegrated the Ugandan body politic. This was through the abrogation of the 1962 Lancaster House Constitution. Additionally, five dissenting Cabinet ministers were arrested during a Cabinet meeting and later Amin attacked Kabaka Mutesa’s palace, effecting Obote’s ‘palace coup’.  

Approximately 1,000 people, mostly innocent civilians, got killed in this fracas, with civil liberties being suspended through the Buganda specific Emergency Regulations. Additionally, all opposition political parties were banned in 1969 and their leaders detained without trial.

Typically, Adoko callously justified these misdeeds as a “revolution” on Uganda Television. Adoko’s ineptness and further disservice to Uganda, and the people of Africa, is illustrated through his failure to adequately warn Obote of the danger Amin posed to their regime’s survival.

Rather, in tragicomedy style, similar to Nero and Rome’s burning, he left Kampala for the January 1971 Singapore CHOGM when Amin was on rampage! Normally, as security chief and lead regime ideologue, he had no business abroad with an impending crisis at home. He should have remained behind to mobilise against Amin’s coup.

nkintu@yahoo.com

 

 

EM

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