Harare — Africa reacted to the death of former Ugandan president Milton Apollo Obote with mixed feelings.

Sympathisers describe him as a leader who exhibited passion and dedication in the fight against colonialism, while critics say it is sad that he died without facing up to his crimes in court.

Political commentators, however, say that despite the fact that Obote faced accusations of killing thousands of people in Uganda's turbulent 1980s, Africans should not forget his contribution to the continent's independence struggle and the development he brought to post-independent Uganda.

"I worked under Dr Milton Obote's government as national youth chairman until his overthrow in 1985. He is my hero and he inspired me to go to school and university," said a London-based political commentator, David Nyekorach Matsanga.

"His legacy will be remembered as a person who built schools, hospitals, good roads and almost the whole of Uganda has footprints of Milton.

"He will be remembered by many Ugandans as an orator. The man could speak for three hours non-stop," he said.

Obote (80) died on Monday in a Johannesburg hospital after fighting a losing battle with a kidney ailment.

Although he kept a low profile throughout his life of exile in Zambia, some Ugandans paid tribute to their late former leader saying he "embodied charisma and mature politics" which is difficult to find in some politicians today.

"He is the founding father of the nation. He fought for independence and got it for his nation. He supported liberation struggles in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya as a true pan-African. He deserves a decent state burial," Vincent Kitutu, a Ugandan was quoted saying.

One of Africa's few surviving statesman and revered politicians from the early crop of independence leaders in the 1960s; Dr Kenneth Kaunda described Obote's death as a sad loss to the leadership in Africa.

"It is definitely shocking and untimely. We are going to miss him and all the things he has left," Dr Kaunda was quoted as saying in The Post, a leading paper in Zambia.

"We were together in politics for some time and his staying away for some time now did not reduce what he tried to do for his country. It's so sad it's so sad to lose him."

The pipe smoking politician is widely credited for using diplomacy and persuasion to resolve tribal disputes which from time to time threatened to tear Uganda apart.

Political rivalries and religious differences divided Uganda under his rule and this even spilled over to the 1990s and over, with the government of President Yoweri Museveni battling to contain rebels in the north.

Obote was the first African head of State to be overthrown and return to reclaim his office.

He led his country to independence in October 1962. He rose to Uganda's highest office from humble beginnings as a herd boy and labourer to a teacher and politician.

Obote; who analysts describe as the embodiment of a cool reflective statesman and a tough, resourceful revolutionary; studied political science and economics at Makerere University College.

He, however, gave that up in 1950 and plunged into the trade union movement to learn first hand, the harsh and deplorable conditions that labourers worked under.

He learned his politics from Kenya's late President Jomo Kenyatta whom he helped to found the Kenya African Union.

After the Uganda People's Congress party was launched, Obote skillfully manoeuvred and rose to lead the party through what analysts say was "sharp wheeling and dealing".

He entered the Uganda Legislative Council in 1957 and became Prime Minister in April 1962.

In the early years, his foreign policy leaned to the east, favouring the Soviet Union and supporting China over the war in Vietnam.

Obote ruled Uganda for nine years from independence until 1971.

He was overthrown by his own army commander Idi Amin on January 24 1972, whilst attending a Commonwealth summit in Singapore. He stayed in exile in Tanzania for eight years until a combined force of Ugandan exiles and the Tanzanian army flushed Amin out of Uganda.

Obote had a second bite of the cherry and was installed as president for the second time on December 15 1980 after a general election, which was won by his party, UPC.

Amid allegations that Obote had rigged the vote, several former anti-Amin liberators led by Yoweri Museveni fled to the bushes of Luwero in Buganda and mounted a guerrilla war against Obote's regime.

His critics accused him of being a dictator for refusing to open the country to multi-party politics.

The hearts of many Ugandans still have his wounds.

"I'm happy that Obote is dead. I have no tears for him or condolences for his family as well. He killed many people," Paul Mawanda (35) said arguing that he was forced to pick up a gun to fight Obote in the turbulent 1980s because of the killing of hundreds of people by Obote.

The guerrilla war raged for five years until Museveni's troops seized power in 1986. This sad period was characterised by brutal repression and mass executions of innocent civilians.

Brigadier Tito Okello ousted Obote in another coup in 1985, the following year Museveni took power by force.

Museveni has ruled Uganda ever since with no room for opposition politics and with a fiery onslaught on the Lord's Resistance Army rebels in the north.

Ugandan exiles still accuse Museveni of brutality and repression. Obote fled to Nairobi and later Zambia where Dr Kaunda, a politician of his generation granted him exile.

Obote was married with four children and had another child by a mistress. Although he was criticised by some and hailed by others, there is no doubt that when Uganda's historical trials and tribulations are written, the name Obote will have a special place among other notables who shaped and influenced Uganda's political landscape.

This explains why he is being granted a State-assisted funeral.