President Yoweri Museveni has expressed his disapproval of the request to establish the Idi Amin Memorial Institute, as outlined in a letter dated October 5, 2023, addressed to the First Lady and Minister for Education and Sports, Janet Kataha Museveni.
In this letter, it’s mentioned that Former Obongi County Member of Parliament, Hassan Kaps Fungaroo, submitted the request to the National Council for Higher Education.
Museveni’s rejection centers on the illegitimacy of Idi Amin’s government and the violation of the 1962 Constitution.
While acknowledging that the constitution was altered in 1966/67, he suggests that the constitutionality of these actions remains a topic for debate. He strongly emphasizes that Amin’s subsequent actions were unconstitutional and involved numerous crimes.
In his letter, Museveni highlights examples of crimes committed during Amin’s regime, such as the killing of Acholi and Lango Soldiers in Mbarara, the killing of prisoners in Mutukula Prison, and the murders of individuals like Ben Kiwanuka, Basil Bataringaya, and his wife. Additionally, he recalls how Amin’s expulsion of Indian entrepreneurs negatively impacted Uganda’s economy and considers it an ignorant move, as these expatriates enriched other countries.
Given this historical context, President Museveni firmly rejects the idea of establishing an institute in memory of General Idi Amin. He believes it is unnecessary and against the interests of Uganda, emphasizing that the forgiving Ugandans have already forgiven surviving associates of Amin, and history should be left in the past.
However, Hassan Kaps Fungaroo, who proposed the Institute, contends that it is a matter of national significance aimed at correcting the wrongly written history of Uganda, particularly concerning the people of West Nile. Fungaroo believes that this historical distortion has unfairly portrayed the West Nile people and is impacting their present and future generations.
He argues that rectifying historical errors is a collective duty, and the Idi Amin Memorial Institute is a step toward addressing broader issues affecting everyone.
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