Idi Amin was an idiot � Museveni, The Monitor-6th February 2003
By Rogers Mulindwa
President Yoweri Museveni yesterday again attacked his predecessors.Former dictator Idi Amin took the brunt of the president's attacks.
"This Idi Amin was an idiot and a fool who had been put in power by the imperialists," he said.
Museveni was speaking at celebrations to mark the 22nd anniversary of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (formerly National Resistance Army) at Bombo Army headquarters.
The president said the armed struggle launched in 1981 wasn't the first resistance against poor leadership.
He linked it to the struggle against Amin that started in 1971.
He hailed the Tanzanians for the military support to Ugandan exiles who fought to topple Amin from 1971 until they succeeded in April 1979.
Museveni also blamed former president Milton Obote for using the army to overthrow the 1962 constitution.
"That�s when we started relying on a gun to defend our country," he said.
Museveni said 70,000 people were killed by Obote's forces in Luwero.
Their skulls are interred at several monuments across Luwero.
Museveni said Amin had killed about 500,000 Ugandans between 1971 and 1979.
"Those killing fellow Africans are agents of foreign interests," Museveni said.
The president warned undisciplined soldiers.
He said any soldier who kills innocent people would be shot.
He said there were three such cases at the army court martial in northern Uganda.
Museveni said the 17-year northern insurgency would end soon.
The function was attended by five senior Sudanese army officers led by Lt. Gen. Mohammad.
"I am happy that the Sudanese delegation is with us and I hope the northern border will soon be peaceful," he said.
He accused former DR Congo presidents Mobutu Sese Seko and Laurent Kabila of being behind killings in western Uganda.
"Mobutu and Kabila were sending terrorists into our country and we had to deal with them," Museveni said.
He did not elaborate.
He said since the Movement assumed power, university en! rolment has increased from 4,900 in 1986 to 57,000 in 2002.
The number of pupils under Universal Primary Education has also risen from 2.2 million to 7.4 million.
Museveni said unemployment would be solved by having more industries.
Army Commander Maj. Gen. James Kazini pledged Shs 500,000 to the best guard commander, Lt. D.J. Walimbwa.
February 06, 2003 14:14:32
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