40 years after Moshi Conference – Part I

Reading Mr Paul Busharizi’s compilation in the New Vision on the fall of Idi Amin and his military regime reveals many omissions, distortions and sheer ignorance in the series.

It is clear that Mr Busharizi did not consult or read numerous books and other materials before he compiled his opinions. His ignorance about who played decisive roles in the debates, formulations and decisions of the Moshi declarations and Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF) constitution is inexcusable.
To begin with, the idea of Moshi and its spirit were the brainchild of the Tanzanian government in consultation with Ugandan exiles and refugees who were victims of the Amin regime.

The decision to have Prof Yusuf Lule as president after Amin was also of Tanzanians in consultation with exiled Ugandans outside East Africa against the plans and rejection by the Uganda Peoples Congress and other exiled groups in East Africa which wanted that only they should determine and participate in the post-Idi Amin government.
The same opinion was shared by the military founded groups which went further and advocated that only they should form such a government as they are the ones who will determine the future of the country should they liberate it from Amin.

Prof Tarsis Kabwegyere was neither the originator nor the convener of the pre-Moshi preparatory meeting we held in Nairobi, Kenya, at Christmas 1978, as we planned the defeat of the Amin regime and Moshi Conference.
In fact, it was Israel Mayengo who first hosted us when we initially met in his Nairobi business office. As we deliberated, rumour reached us that the Kenya police were coming to close the meeting and arrest all those attending who they regarded as traitors against the government of a sister country, Uganda.

We fled in panic and scattered all over the city. Later, we contacted one another and decided to request Kabwegyere to permit us to continue our meeting in his house, having reasoned that the police would not think of looking for us there because he was a visiting lecturer in the University of Nairobi.
It was at that meeting that Edward Rurangaranga, a fanatic supporter of Milton Obote, vehemently and dramatically attempted to stop the meeting, arguing that Obote was still the president of Uganda and we should only discuss his resumption of the presidency when Idi Amin is ousted.

Indeed, other political parties representatives in that meeting championed the cause of Ugandan politicians other than Obote to replace Amin.
The Nairobi meeting resolved that the struggle should involve all Ugandans whether in or outside the country. It is that very meeting which set up a steering committee composed of, among others, Dr Andrew Kayira, Prof Yash Tandon, Rev Fr Okot, Tarsis Kabwegyere and this columnist to execute that programme.
In Part II, we shall narrate the dramatic proceedings of the Moshi Conference.

Prof Kanyeihamba is a retired Supreme Court judge.
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