Dr Kizza Besigye has said former President Idi Amin might have been illiterate but must be commended for setting up infrastructure that has stood the test of time.
Addressing a well-attended rally in Arua on Saturday, the IPC presidential flag-bearer said Amin developed West Nilesomething President Museveni has failed to do.
Many people have been saying that Amin was not educated, but what Amin built can still be seen, said Dr Besigye. We have Muni National Teachers College, which is one of the biggest in the country. Where is Musevenis college in West Nile?
Amin, who ruled Uganda from 1971 to 1979, was born in West Nile and never completed primary school education. He died in August 2003 and was buried in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he had fled into exile. Speaking to a charged crowd, Dr Besigye said had it not been for President Musevenis inflexibility, Amins remains would have been returned to Uganda.
There was drama prior to the rally when supporters of the ruling NRM party, reportedly rallied by Arua Resident District Commissioner, retired Maj. Ibrahim Abiriga, slaughtered a number of cows at Kamure Park for people to feast on so they would not turn up for the opposition gathering.
That did not happen. At about 4pm when word spread of Dr Besigyes arrival, people poured on the streets clogging the Rhino Camp-Avenue Road junction and shopkeepers hurriedly locked their wares and joined in the trudge to Arua Hill grounds. The crowd chanted, Anya emi eza oyee, a Lugbara equivalent of We have eaten your meat for nothing, apparently referring to meat pieces distributed by Mr Abiriga.
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