I removed Binaisa, reveals Museveni

By Henry Mukasa

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni deposed former president Godfrey Lukongwa Binaisa because he let political schemers manipulate his short-lived presidency, he told mourners yesterday.

However, by the time Binaisa died, they had reconciled, the President added.

Speaking at Binaisa’s burial in Nateete, a Kampala suburb, Museveni also said he participated in the ouster of President Yusuf Kironde Lule over dishonesty.

Binaisa, 90, was buried at Mackay Church of Uganda next to his father’s grave. The former head of state died in his sleep at his home in Makindye on August 5. He received a 21-gun salute.

The Uganda Police pall-bearers handled the body as the Police band played dirges.

Museveni said he met Binaisa in the 1970s at Kilimanjaro Hotel when allied forces based in Tanzania were plotting to overthrow dictator Idi Amin. Binaisa impressed him as an articulate and humorous person, he noted.

“When we got here, we got problems with Lule because he forgot us. He said, ‘I am the President, forget all what we discussed in Moshi.’ I said, ‘whoever forgets people who help him to get where he is deserves a punishment.’ We toppled Lule. I took part in removing Lule because he did not follow what we agreed.”

Museveni recalled that during the search for Lule’s successor, he proposed Binaisa, who had to compete with Edward Rugumayo and the late Paulo Muwanga.

Because Muwanga scored a dismal three votes, his camp asked Rugumayo to withdraw from the race and Binaisa became president. He reigned between June 20, 1979 and May 12, 1980.

“Our group put Binaisa in power. Those who talk about Binaisa should know where he came from,” Museveni recounted.

He said the political problem of the day was treachery, dishonesty and lies, which, he said, still prevail. Months into power, the President recalled, Binaisa was convinced by conspirators to remove Museveni from the defence ministry because he was “a stumbling block”.

“Buli omu yali ali mu kibalo (everyone was scheming). DP and UPC were moving around with a calculator instead of seeking consensus and we move as a team. I wondered; ‘How could my friend who I brought sack me as minister on radio?’ That’s how I fell out with Binaisa,” Museveni explained.

“Our calculation was scientific. I decided we needed to get rid of Binaisa because he had become a problem,” Museveni stated.

The President said he met Binaisa in Libya and re-united with him. “When we came to power (in 1986), he was in the United States and we called him back,” Museveni said.

“I am very glad for the last ten years Binaisa was here (from exile). We have been interacting. I had forgotten that he sacked me. I am glad he died when we had reconciled and we are here to celebrate his life. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”