Obote returns in triumph

Press, 31 May 1980, Page 9

Obote returns in triumph

NZPA-Reuter Kampala Thousands of Ugandans lined Kampala’s streets and cheered the former President, Milton Obote. yesterday as he returned to the Ugandan capital from nine years in exile to prepare a political come-back. At Entebbe Airport, south of the city, he was embraced by Paulo Muwanga, a longtime associate now the most powerful man in Uganda as chairman of the Military Commission which 18 days ago overthrew President Godfrey Binaisa. “My friend, it’s good to be back,” Mr Obote told Mr Muwanga. Then he drove in a guarded motorcade through throngs of cheering Ugandans. A party was being prepared at his heavily-guarded villa in Kolo suburb. Aides said he would stay in Kampala for a few days and then go to his native northern region. The former President, overthrown by Idi Amin in 1971 and now expected to be the presidential candidate of the Uganda People’s Congress in elections this year, ended his exile in Tanzania and returned to a huge political rally in southern Uganda on Tuesday. Mr Obote alienated many of the large Baganda tribe which dominates the Kampala region when he drove their Kabaka (King) into exile and abolished the country’s federal structure of kingdoms in 1966. Mr Muwanga told reporters when they reached Mr Obote’s house: “This is the greatest day for Uganda.”

Mr Obote has consistently denied having any prior knowledge of the military coup which preceded his return to the country.

A national convention of the Uganda People’s Congress, which was to have been held this week, had been postponed indefinitetly, party officials said.

The Government-owned “Uganda Times” said yesterday Mr Obote had told party leaders at a rally: “Go back home and reorganise yourselves. The reconstruction of the party needs time and proper planning.”