It was wrong of Ben Kiwanuka to work with Amin - Museveni

“For us we don’t think it was correct for [Ben] Kiwanuka to accept to be chief justice for Amin. You couldn’t talk of judicial independence with Amin. How can Amin say this and you come to the Supreme Court to say the other?” Museveni remarked.

Museveni was speaking during the fifth Ben Kiwanuka Memorial Day at the High Court grounds in Kampala.

Kiwanuka, the first Ugandan Chief Justice, was reportedly murdered on the orders of then president, Idi Amin.

Accounting to several accounts, Kiwanuka was picked up from his chambers at the High Court in Kampala by security personnel.

Then, he was bundled into a waiting car and taken to an unknown place. He was never seen again and his body has never been found, 50 years later.

Museveni said Amin was not a person to be worked or trusted in any fashion.

“When Amin came in, we the political actors had a difference about Amin. Idi Amin didn’t understand anything and its why we had differences from the word go. He announced the coup at 3pm and 5pm we were meeting in Yona Kayomozi’s house in Bugoloobi to fight Amin,” Museveni said.

“Nabudere(Dan) was working in railways, Kibedi(Wanume) was minister for foreign affairs and Rugumayo( Edward) was in education. We warned them about dealing with Amin and with time they begun to see they were in a trap [in Amin’s government].”

Museveni then admitted that former Uganda president Milton Obote was a flawed leader, but he was never as bad as Amin.

“I don’t think Obote would kill a civil servant. He would marginalize but not kill in that direct way. For us had a different view that Kiwanuka shouldn’t have joined Amin. He was principled man but it was unfortunate he ended up with Amin.”

The Chief Justice, Alphonse Owiny Dollo, said Ben Kiwanuka’s legacy last forever, being in embalmed in the hearts and minds of Ugandans.

“His being principled was not while being a judicial officer only and not determined by the nature of the judicial officer he was but even as a young politician before Uganda getting independence, he was principled enough to stand up and say Democratic Party was a national party. By nature he was a principled person. He was an advocate of the rule of law and respect for human rights to which he ultimately paid the price. We should ask ourselves what we have so far done and what else we can do to uphold his values,” Dollo said.

The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, said Kiwanuka was selfless, a genuine leader.

“He served ideals not just his ambition. He was a very loyal friend .He championed independence of the judiciary. Everything comes at a price. Sometimes you don’t get everything you have paid for but there is nothing you get without paying for it. Today as we reflect on the life of Ben Kiwanuka, we ask ourselves what rule of law is,” Mao said.

He then asked government to help the Kiwanuka family find the late Kiwanuka’s remains.

“I ask on behalf of the Democratic Party for government to get involved in finding the remains of Ben Kiwanuka. We will be happy even when we just receive a tooth. We will at least be able to bury that tooth. Technology exists for example forensic archeologists and we know roughly where he would have been buried but need the support of government.”

During the Memorial, former Principal Judge, Dr.Yorokam Bamwine and the late former Deputy Chief Justice, Leticia Mukasa Kikonyogo received Ben Kiwanuka Lifetime Achievement Awards for serving even-handed justice for Ugandans.