{UAH} THANKS TO GOD., I HAVE SEEN IT ALL
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25th 1971 AND 26th 1986, COMPARE AND CONTRAST
25th JAN 1971 AND 26TH JAN 1986 AS I SAW IT
On Monday January 24th 1971, l saw people near our home village at Nnambiriizi cerebrating. They were led by one Mwalimu Kaluuna Mukiibi, a Kabaka Yekka fanatic. He had put on a bark cloth shouting "Kabaka adda," (Kabaka is coming back) , "Kabaka ajja" (Kabaka is coming)." My paternal aunt, Fatina Nnatale, who was a brewer, donated them a calabash of beer. l was four years.A neighboring herdsman donated a bull for roasting. l asked my mother what was going on, she answered that "Gen.Amin awambye," (Gen.Amin had taken over). Later in the year Amin visited Mawogola in a chopper piloted by a White. He came with a son of the soil, Kigoonya, who was Commissioner of Prisons, and on his way to Kabula, he went with our Saza Chief, Yiga, l think to give him a briefing. Kigonya, who was Commissioner of Buganda Prisons before 1966 crisis and a son of a chief, never survived Amin as he was suspected to be collaborating with rebels after 1972 September invasion. But Yiga, like many UPC men and women, who just changed allegiance from Obote l to Amin, survived but was replaced by a military saza chief, Corporal. Francis Kasozi, in 1973.
Then on evening of April 1979, while grazing cows and goats near my paternal's uncle, at Kyengera hill, Nnambiriizi, my adopted brother, Asumani Ssali, came and broke news to me that Kampala had fallen to Tanzanians and Amin regime was no more. Out of patriotism, l was a fanatic supporter of Uganda during 1978-1979 war and l could not believe that we could lose the war as we had Libya and Soviet Union as our allies. Moreover Suicide Mechanized Reconnaissance Regiment under the command of the late Brig. Bernard Rwehururu, had done well to stop advancement of Tanzanian forces from Masaka to Mubende.
However, upon reaching home, l realized that we had lost and l had to accept the situation as it was. One day in October 1979, during currency reform exercise, a young minister for Defence visited Ssembabule. He was Yoweri K Museveni. He was speaking in English with our saza chief, Sebastian Kabumbuli Kitayimbwa translating, but people were not satisfied with the translation and they told him to speak in Runyankore and he did so. l came impressed with UNLF and when umbrella politics was announced, l believed in it. However this was short lived, as Military Commission took over and organized controversial December 10 1980 general elections won by DP but rigged in favor of UPC and sparked off a five year liberation war that brought NRM to power on January 26th 1986. Many of our own people were involved in the war.
On Friday July 26th 1985, as we were returning home from St. Victor's SSS Kitaasa in Bukomansimbi, to start a second school term and register as voters for 1980 general elections, soldiers on a military truck from Mubende waved at us with a fist, which was a DP symbol. We did not respond. Upon reaching home, during 8.00 pm news, it was reported that three brigades had declared allegiance to President Milton Obote. In one of the messages from one of the Brigade Commanders, it was reported that "...now Museveni is no longer the enemy of Uganda...'
On Saturday July 27th, when l reached home, l found a special announcement by Eric Odwar Parmoi, "We want one united Uganda. Uganda is not for a particular tribe or individual. We call upon Hon. Yoweri Museveni and senior officers of UNLA to report at Senior Police Officers Nakasero immediately.' l had missed the first announcement by Walter Ochora.
This was followed with a series of public rallies held by senior NRM/NRA commanders including now Col.Fred Boogere, now Brig. Elly Kayanja, the late Male, who persuaded many including my self to join NRM at Lwengo, which was its tactical headquarters. That was the time NRM Interim Chairperson Yoweri K. Museveni, Vice Chairperson Al Haji Moses Kigongo, External Coordinator Samson Kisekka and Ssaabataka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi ll held a public rally at Masaka.
When the new President, YKM said that " This was not a mere change of guards, this was fundamental change," some people may not have taken him seriously, for they had heard such promises since 1971, but they realized that they had jumped from a frying pan to fire itself until NRM came in in 1986.
l am grateful to God to have allowed me to see all this and l pray that that the fundamental change is not reversed. l say this for God and my country. Happy liberation day national celebrations.
-- 25th JAN 1971 AND 26TH JAN 1986 AS I SAW IT
On Monday January 24th 1971, l saw people near our home village at Nnambiriizi cerebrating. They were led by one Mwalimu Kaluuna Mukiibi, a Kabaka Yekka fanatic. He had put on a bark cloth shouting "Kabaka adda," (Kabaka is coming back) , "Kabaka ajja" (Kabaka is coming)." My paternal aunt, Fatina Nnatale, who was a brewer, donated them a calabash of beer. l was four years.A neighboring herdsman donated a bull for roasting. l asked my mother what was going on, she answered that "Gen.Amin awambye," (Gen.Amin had taken over). Later in the year Amin visited Mawogola in a chopper piloted by a White. He came with a son of the soil, Kigoonya, who was Commissioner of Prisons, and on his way to Kabula, he went with our Saza Chief, Yiga, l think to give him a briefing. Kigonya, who was Commissioner of Buganda Prisons before 1966 crisis and a son of a chief, never survived Amin as he was suspected to be collaborating with rebels after 1972 September invasion. But Yiga, like many UPC men and women, who just changed allegiance from Obote l to Amin, survived but was replaced by a military saza chief, Corporal. Francis Kasozi, in 1973.
Then on evening of April 1979, while grazing cows and goats near my paternal's uncle, at Kyengera hill, Nnambiriizi, my adopted brother, Asumani Ssali, came and broke news to me that Kampala had fallen to Tanzanians and Amin regime was no more. Out of patriotism, l was a fanatic supporter of Uganda during 1978-1979 war and l could not believe that we could lose the war as we had Libya and Soviet Union as our allies. Moreover Suicide Mechanized Reconnaissance Regiment under the command of the late Brig. Bernard Rwehururu, had done well to stop advancement of Tanzanian forces from Masaka to Mubende.
However, upon reaching home, l realized that we had lost and l had to accept the situation as it was. One day in October 1979, during currency reform exercise, a young minister for Defence visited Ssembabule. He was Yoweri K Museveni. He was speaking in English with our saza chief, Sebastian Kabumbuli Kitayimbwa translating, but people were not satisfied with the translation and they told him to speak in Runyankore and he did so. l came impressed with UNLF and when umbrella politics was announced, l believed in it. However this was short lived, as Military Commission took over and organized controversial December 10 1980 general elections won by DP but rigged in favor of UPC and sparked off a five year liberation war that brought NRM to power on January 26th 1986. Many of our own people were involved in the war.
On Friday July 26th 1985, as we were returning home from St. Victor's SSS Kitaasa in Bukomansimbi, to start a second school term and register as voters for 1980 general elections, soldiers on a military truck from Mubende waved at us with a fist, which was a DP symbol. We did not respond. Upon reaching home, during 8.00 pm news, it was reported that three brigades had declared allegiance to President Milton Obote. In one of the messages from one of the Brigade Commanders, it was reported that "...now Museveni is no longer the enemy of Uganda...'
On Saturday July 27th, when l reached home, l found a special announcement by Eric Odwar Parmoi, "We want one united Uganda. Uganda is not for a particular tribe or individual. We call upon Hon. Yoweri Museveni and senior officers of UNLA to report at Senior Police Officers Nakasero immediately.' l had missed the first announcement by Walter Ochora.
This was followed with a series of public rallies held by senior NRM/NRA commanders including now Col.Fred Boogere, now Brig. Elly Kayanja, the late Male, who persuaded many including my self to join NRM at Lwengo, which was its tactical headquarters. That was the time NRM Interim Chairperson Yoweri K. Museveni, Vice Chairperson Al Haji Moses Kigongo, External Coordinator Samson Kisekka and Ssaabataka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi ll held a public rally at Masaka.
When the new President, YKM said that " This was not a mere change of guards, this was fundamental change," some people may not have taken him seriously, for they had heard such promises since 1971, but they realized that they had jumped from a frying pan to fire itself until NRM came in in 1986.
l am grateful to God to have allowed me to see all this and l pray that that the fundamental change is not reversed. l say this for God and my country. Happy liberation day national celebrations.
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