Prime
Amin’s son writes to Museveni
Mr Hussein Juruga Lumumba, the late Idi Amin’s son. Mr Lumumba, in his letter to President Museveni, claims the family members are not treated as Ugandans. File photo
Kampala- The son of former Ugandan president Idi Amin has written to President Museveni over family property allegedly confiscated by government.
Mr Hussein Juruga Lumumba said in an open letter to the President that the army continues to occupy some of their family property without pay.
“I have been threatened with death by UPDF officers who have twice ordered guards to shoot me as I visited the premises to discuss with the tenants,” he says.
Mr Lumumba said 10 years ago President Museveni promised Amin’s family that all the properties would be returned to them after the former Ugandan leader died in Saudi Arabia.
The controversial properties include; two houses on plot 34 and 35 Chwa Road, Mbuya in Kampala and land on plot 33 on the same road.
Other properties, Mr Lumumba said, are a farm in Arua District and two houses near Arua Airstrip.
He says all these properties are titled in the name of his late father. “He acquired some of these houses before he became president,” Mr Lumumba says adding that he has written thrice to the president with no response.
“That’s why I have decided to write an open letter to him,” he says.
Mr Jaffar Amin, Mr Lumumba’s brother said all the family property were confiscated in 1979 and have never been returned.
“I think this country thinks we are supposed to suffer. Unfortunately, people think we are not Ugandans. Until we overcome this problem at politically, we will continue suffering,” Mr Jaffar said.
The presidential spokesperson, Mr Tamale Mirundi said he was not aware of the letters written to the President but said Mr Museveni has no problem with Amin’s family.
He also said the family can go to court and get an order to evict the UPDF soldiers occupying the land.
“Although Amin committed many atrocities, his family can still get back its properties,” Mr Mirundi said.
He added: “But investigations must first be done to ascertain how and when these properties were acquired because some leaders have a tendency of forcefully taking over property when they get to power.”
The army spokesperson, Lt Col Paddy Ankunda, said the army is willing to vacate the properties if the family brings evidence that they are rightful owners.
“If they can prove that the properties belong to them, they will get them back,” Col Ankunda, said.
Amin’s family demands
-Wants UPDF to vacate plots; 33, 34 &35 on Chwa Road, Mbuya.
-Return of a farm in Arua
-Two houses near Arua Airstrip
-Wants office of the President to handle the ex-gratia payments of former presidents.
-Compensation for occupied properties
-Stop seeing us like non-Ugandans
-Discipline some individuals in Defence ministry and president’s office
Lumumba’s detailed letter
It is 10 years since my late father Al Hajji Idi Amin passed away in Saudi Arabia.
At the time (2003), you sent then Col Elly Kayanja to make arrangements for the family to return and settle in Uganda.
You promised us good positions in government and publicly said you would handover to us my entire late father’s property with compensation for the time the property has been occupied by Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) officers.
I really thought you were genuine and actually came to Uganda from Saudi Arabia with the intention of seeing your word become reality.
Unfortunately, since you announced the above developments 10 years ago, the achievement index for this simple matter is zero.
Instead, I have even been threatened with death by the UPDF officers who have twice ordered the guards to shoot me when I visited the premises to discuss with the tenants.
The letters I have written to the Minister of Defense and to you have remained unanswered yet they were adequately received, dated and stamped by staff at Office of the President, Parliament Building and sent to State House.
The Inspector General of Police also remained silent when I contacted him on the matter (and in writing).
Yet the incidents are of his professional domain and competence since there was threat of violence with a firearm amongst other possible crimes.
In summary, the result to-date is that the property compensation, the ex-gratia payments of former presidents and the military service pensions of our late father have vanished in thin air while Uganda Peoples Defence Forces officers still attempt to grab property by force of arms.
Your Excellency, I fear that some elements in your administration have so excelled in corrupt tendencies to the point of trying to steal the monies and properties of a President of the Republic of Uganda in broad daylight under your watch.
Yes, there is a legal option that I discussed with my lawyer. But why would anyone want to resort to such for this simple matter, unless you have actually shown bad faith in supporting illegal grabbing of citizen’s property.
My first instinct is to make sure that I explain the matter to you through this letter, rather than you finding about it in any other embarrassing ways.
I kindly request that you reign in on these unscrupulous individuals in Defense and Presidents Office who are denigrating a whole presidential directive issued ten years ago by an actual President of the Republic of Uganda as if you were some average Ugandan civilian.
I kindly hope you are able to intervene on these matters, and also on others involving our people. I am currently still thinking of how best to bring them to your excellencies’ attention.
Humble Regards,
Hussein Juruga Lumumba Amin
Son of Former President Al Hajji Idi Amin Dada
