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Uganda: Gadaffi Mosque And OIC; But Where is Idi Amin?
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The Monitor (Kampala)
ANALYSIS
11 May 2008
Posted to the web 12 May 2008
Raymond Otika
Kampala
Where is Idi Amin Dada (RIP) on the good side of Ugandan history? Those who wish Uganda well cannot ignore Amin, the third President of the Republic of Uganda.
Mr Amin made Uganda prominent on the world map for some of the wrong reasons, but no one, neither Herodotus, the great Greek historian, would have revised the historical facts of the good things Mr Amin did for Uganda, and especially the Muslim community, nor will the NRM revisionists who demonised Mr Amin as an "idiot" change that history.
Although Mr Amin officially allocated the land where the "Gadaffi Mosque" stands, no mention or credit was given to him at the inauguration of the historical Mosque in March 2008. Col. Gadaffi, who was a cheerleader during Amin's era of terror and murder, was an accomplice and comrade in crime against humanity, instead took all the credits. The mosque was named after him plus a bonus - the Makerere Hill Road is now Gadaffi Road. Yet the background of that mosque is Amin's vision for Muslims in Uganda.
Personally, I wouldn't have mind if the "Old Kampala Mosque" were named after Mr Amin. I just hope the Ugandan Muslim community has not forgotten Amin altogether.
They did not even give him the slightest recognition as far as the "Old Kampala Mosque" is concerned. With due respect, with Mr Amin, some of the infighting and thieving over properties in and around the country, wouldn't happen.
Before the advent of Amin in 1971, Ugandan Muslims were like second-class citizens. They were called names. But all that changed. Mr Amin gave the a sense of pride and collective identity through the establishment of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council.
According to the Daily Monitor of May 7, Uganda will host the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) from June 16-20, 2008. That credit goes to Mr Amin and no one will take it away from him, even if nothing is mentioned of him. Even President Museveni must be humbled by Mr Amin's pragmatism.
Mr Amin made sure Uganda became a member of (OIC) in 1974, even when in reality Uganda was not an Islamic country - like the majority member states. Neither President Museveni nor those who hate him even in his grave will change that fact.
I do not know what the Koran says about forgiveness.
As a Christian, forgiveness is the greatest therapy to a victim of oppression and related trauma. And the bottom line is even to love one's enemy, "Father forgive them; they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).
Forgiveness saves the victim psychologically and morally first and the villain next.
But there are some people in this country who have committed serious crimes against Ugandans than Amin; they added and contributed nothing to what Amin did Uganda proud. But whenever they want to make political statements, they shamelessly chest-thump and shake their fists at Amin even when he is in his grave far away in Saudi Arabia.
Some Ugandans, including our current President who was not even the direct victim of Amin's leadership are so vindictive. They are the least forgiving compared with those who suffered the direct terror and horror of some of the brutality inflicted by "some" of Amin's State Research security operatives.
I lost many relatives including a brother and brother in-law during Amin's era of terror but I forgave Amin. Prominent among them was Erinayo Oryema (Minister of Internal Affairs then). Amin himself may have not sanctioned most of crimes against humanity, but he takes the blame to date.
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As good Africans and Christians, most Acholi and Langi who suffered the brunt of Amin's era forgave Amin long time ago and moved on with their lives.
Even as we ponder the LRA/UPDF atrocities in Northern, most of the direct and indirect victims have forgiven Kony and the LRA and moving on with their lives. But those who haven't crossed the Karuma bridge to see the aftermath of the 21-year LRA/UPDF victims are baying for Kony's blood.
When the LRA victims accepted total reconciliation with the LRA, the sanctimonious Ugandans went to the ICC for vengeance only to prolong the agony of the victims.
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