Survival: A Soldier’S Story

By Robeson Bennazoo Otim Engur

Survival is the frank and the opinionated story of a man behind this struggle in life. Famously humble about his experiences straight on all events that took place in his life thus giving us a unique view of life, tragedies and glory.
From humble beginnings in Uganda, Robeson has overcome the odds to become an accomplished scholar in his own right.
His determination for success and willingness to to confront hardships head-on has been the stepping stone to his arduous journey into the unknown and unchartered territory.
Love him or hate him, he has proved in many fronts that, 'where there is a will, there is a way'. He has proved that it is the experiences you have in life that makes you what you are., and not things that are given to you.
Every single event in his life was a difficult and that changed his character as a person profusely and these are circumstances we view in life as bad luck. During the difficult times, he found the strength to carry on - to move forward and make something good come out of a bad situation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jul 16, 2013
• ISBN: 9781481796262

Robeson Bennazoo Otim Engur

Major Benazzo O’thim Engur was born on the 10th April 1960 at Lira in Northern Uganda. He went to Lango College, Lira in the 70s and Bukalasa Agricultural College in 1980. He joined the Uganda Army – UNLA in 1983 as a Cadet Officer. He was later commissioned as Second Lieutenant. During his time of service, he participated in many wars in Uganda. In 1986 when the NRA/M government came to power, he was arrested, languished in many prisons and finally imprisoned at Luzira maximum security prison in Kampala, Uganda as a political detainee. In 1989 after release from prison, he escaped and fled to the United Kingdom (UK) where he was granted Political asylum. Through sheer determination and hard work, he pursued further education in the UK and attained a Diploma and a Baccalaureate in Environmental Science, majoring in Integrated Waste Management. He was also awarded with an Associate Membership of the Chartered Institution of Waste Management – Assoc.MCIWM. From 1992 to 2009, he worked with the London Borough of Haringey, North London in various post in the Environmental Service Directorate and his contribution to the service was exemplary and invaluable. He still lives in London but spends time pursuing other interests around the globe. His journey in pursuit of freedom, dream, personal ambition and aspiration was indeed arduous, excruciating and not for the faint-hearted. – Just read the Memoir!

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© 2013 by ROBESON BENNAZOO OTIM ENGUR. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 07/11/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4817-9625-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-9624-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-9626-2 (e)

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Preface

Foreword

Acknowledgements

Dedication

Chapter 1.   Reminiscing The 25Th January Nineteen Seventy One

Chapter 2.   Early Years

Chapter 3.   The 1971 Military Coup

Chapter 4.   The State Research Bureau—(Srb)

Chapter 5.   The Dreaded 1977

Chapter 6.   The Firing Squad

Chapter 7.   My First Job—Taxi Park

Chapter 8.   The Liberation War—1979

Chapter 9.   Bukalasa Training Institute And The N.R.A.

Chapter 10.   How I Joined The Uganda Army-U.N.L.A.

Chapter 11.   Military Training

Chapter 12.   Second Phase—Cadet Course

Chapter 13.   The Day Of Graduation 7 June 1985

Chapter 14.   The Weeks Before The Coup

Chapter 15.   The Defence And Fall Of Lira Artillery Garrison

Chapter 16.   Victory At Arm’s Length

Chapter 17.   The 27Th June Coup 1985

Chapter 18.   Back Where It All Started—Gulu

Chapter 19.   Back To Lira

Chapter 20.   Troop Command In The Jungle

Chapter 21.   Comming Of N.R.A.

Chapter 22.   The Great Feckless Retreat And End Of The U.N.L.A.

Chapter 23.   The Home Coming

Chapter 24.   End Of The Road / Life After Army

Chapter 25.   Open Arrest In Lira

Chapter 26.   The Arrest In Kampala

Chapter 27.   Life And Quandary In Luzira Prison Survival

Chapter 28.   Release From Prison

Chapter 29.   Life In Kiburara Army Reorganization Prison

Chapter 30.   Exit From Kiburara Military Prison

Chapter 31.   Preparation For Travel Abroad

Chapter 32.   Reassessing The Impact Of The 27Th June 1985 Coup (Counting The Cost Many Years Later)

Chapter 33.   In Search For A Better Life

Chapter 34.   Arrival In The United Kingdom

Chapter 35.   Settlement In The United Kingdom

Chapter 36.   Life In The United Kingdom

Chapter 37.   Challanges At The Workplace

Chapter 38.   Combating Prejudice At Work

Chapter 39.   Discrimination, Intridge And Intimidation At The Depot

Chapter 40.   Light At The End Of The Tunnel

Chapter 41.   Back To Uganda

Chapter 42.   The Wonderful Years

Chapter 43.   The Local Authority Politics

Chapter 44.   The Last Years

Chapter 45.   The Final Insult

Chapter 46.   Thoughts About Idi Amin And Amin’s Regime

Chapter 47.   Reflections

Chapter 48.   Reflections: Conquering Fear

Chapter 49.   Reflections: Courage

Chapter 50.   Reflections: Discipline

Chapter 51.   Reflections: Humility, Modesty & Power

Chapter 52.   Reflections: Forgiveness & Apology

Chapter 53.   Reflections: Leadership

Chapter 54.   Reflections: Prejudice

Epilogue

In Memory

Abbrevations/Acronyms

Frontispiece

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There is no easy path to glory, there is no rosy road to fame; Life, however we may view it, is no simple parlours game; but its prizes call for fighting, for endurance, perseverance and grit; for a rugged disposition.

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MAJOR ROBESON O’THIM ENGUR (Assoc. MCIWM)

SURVIVAL

A SOLDIER’S STORY

A TRUE INSPIRATIONAL STORY OF ARDUOUS JOURNEY INTO THE UNKNOWN

THE WAR YEARS AND ESCAPE FROM UGANDA

Man is the Master of his own Destiny; He is responsible for Hewing his own Destiny

The Juche Idea—The Great Leader Marshal Kim IL Sung—1945

‘Behind every great success lies a great sacrifice and nothing great in life comes without a price’

Yokosafati Engur—1977

The courage to look back and laugh at our past is the fertile soil in which our humility and magnanimity grow

—Nelson Mandela—President SA

PREFACE

SURVIVAL

A JOURNEY INTO THE UNKNOWN

This is a true story of survival and endurance in human spirit when going through a phase of excruciating, agonizing and painful experiences in life. The events in this book are awesome, sorrowful, distressing and heartbreaking beyond belief and with commendable modesty, I have not embellished the events in anyway and at any rate. These were occurrences before, during and after services in the Uganda Armed Forces. It is about the consequence and repercussion of conflicts and the many wars which took place in Uganda. It is quintessentially a personal expression and personification of values.

This is not a history book. It is about fulfilment of a dream. It is in itself inspirational because it provides direction, awareness and insight into life. It is intended to satisfy human demand to understand and make sense of the events that hinder our achievements in life. The book moves you beyond assumption and postulations and begins to define success as a grander and a much more far-reaching reality. Here the accomplishment becomes the capacity on an illuminated human being to interface inwardly with wisdom and acumen to succeed and have the ability to decode the events of life.

Whether it is the subtle movement of personal occurrences within the immediate family or the shifting of political and socio-economic forces across the nation, the vision is realised in this book because the events liberate us from our fear, ignorance and perplexity. This book makes the breath-taking statement that self-belief and resilience is the fundamental component of all success.

This book gives you a breathtaking panorama about life in general and it also reaches out to the ordinary person and seeks to activate within them the capacity and the power to be galvanized to a powerful self consciousness state in life! It offers the astounding realistic outlook to life that if one is able to perceive the purpose of life in the midst of each and every event, no matter how large or small, then that person has reached a state of freedom in this life—a liberty that is brought to his condition of transience through will-power, purpose and desire to achieve what was considered impossible.

It is through eliminating the negative defeatist, pessimistic and despondent conviction that one achieves credence and conquers all the intimidation, threats and coercion in life. I must however point out one significant feature of this book. It is vital that you read it with an OPEN MIND (Broad-Mind) because if we are not aware of the truth, we will view events as detached and isolated occurrences thus producing wrong insight gleaned from an invalid perspective. It is in confronting the truth to events that occurred that we can apply the principles to our personal lives and gain understanding and move forcefully towards the truth. Some of my line of reasoning and contention may appear bohemian but it is intended to point out the truth.

Please be objective while reading this book by not being influenced by personal feelings, interpretations or prejudice. It is to have a view based on what is, rather than how we may want them to be. One of the greatest hindrances to correct perception is the range of ingrained beliefs and norms held within our own culture that shape our views and form our identity. To gain deeper understanding we cannot view the events in this book from a partisan or biased perspective.

To overcome social blindness we must be liberated from tribal, ethnic and cultural influences that corrupt our ability to be objective. We must depart from personal positions that are rooted in tribal, cultural outlook and partiality. To put it more concisely, we have to leave our village or cocoon if we want to be healed of blindness.

I have decoded the pain and suffering of my life, personal experiences and principles in a redemptive way and I was able to do this by insight into how these events were tied to life’s bigger picture. I encourage readers to read with care, seek understanding and celebrate the release of own motivation in life.

By

Major Robeson Bennazoo O’thim Engur (Assoc.MCIWM)

FOREWORD

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought about writing a book. But then I had not thought seriously about my trials and tribulations and the many good friends and relatives that I lost over the years. When I developed the awareness, it sent me searching for events and experiences in my life, which then provided me with the inspiration for this book. My exploration has revealed concepts which I have endeavored to share with my readers.

This memoir is a product of my involvement in shaping my own destiny in doing so, the ideals, events and objectives overlap on more than one plane and it is just a synopsis of lifetime events.

In a nutshell, the memoir is a test of; human endurance, stamina, test of character, tolerance and fortitude of human spirit.

It is a testimony and narrative of survival, high degree of patience and resilience with simple conclusion that; one can always achieve anything ‘under the sun’ as long as one is prepared to work extra hard to achieve it. Achieving my goal required display of courage and determination.

Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love

- Mother theresa

Becoming a military officer was an ambition that I had nurtured since childhood and I joined the regular National Army—Uganda National Liberation Army—UNLA in 1983. I had just completed a programme in Agriculture at the National Agricultural College Bukalasa. After completion of my training, I was awarded a Diploma in Agriculture in 1982 (I am an Agronomist by training). I came to live in the United Kingdom (UK) in 1989 where I pursued a Diploma and a Graduate programme in Environmental Science and I majored in the Integrated Waste Management. I was awarded an Associate Membership of the prestigious Chartered Institution of Waste Management (Assoc.MCIWM).

I would like to make it absolutely clear from the outset that I joined the army to pursue a dream and make a career out of the army and I enlisted to serve my beloved nation-Uganda.

Never again in my wildest dreams did I expect that the Army was to be labelled as belonging to an incumbent President or a ruling Political Party at that time. This led to mistrust of the armed forces. The wariness and suspicion of the army has since dogged and became a tenacious issue to the institution to date in Uganda.

As for the consequences of my decision and the impact of what transpired in later years, I have no regrets and I have no animosity towards the perpetrators of my agony and anybody else who was involved in my melancholy and I will always treat them with forbearance. I am not being pedantic and doctrinaire by expressing that I consider my experiences as a phase in my life although it was obscure, incomprehensible and ambiguous at that time. It may have been unintelligible then, murky and saddened my face, but it widened my horizon, perspective and scope on valuing and respecting life. However, the experiences are indelibly printed and engraved in my memory.

Although stereotyping is primitive and sectarian, it is clear that this ideology does not represent the sentiment of a nation. While some individuals are callous, brutal, and ruthless and corrupt when they are in power, they are not representative of the whole regime. I had to mention this in the beginning because I do not wish on my part to tarnish the good image of any government, past or present. I do not want my experiences in life and my comments in this memoir to be taken out of context or to be misconstrued.

This memoir is a document of fact and a testimony of what I encountered and witnessed through my trials and tribulations. These experiences were a paradigm that transformed the way I view the world and humanity as a whole and opened my vision of the whole world and gave me a new perspective to life itself.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

It would be invidious of me to single out any one person for praise however, I am singularly indebted and beholden to all the comrades I served with in the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) especially all the Officers of Intake 002/083 from the then Gulu Cadet Military Leadership Academy trained by North Korean (DPRK) Military Training Team. I am much obliged to have trained with these great comrades like Major General (Major Gen.) Francis Okello, Lieutenant General (Lt. Gen) Jimmy Owoyesigire, Brigadier (Brig.) Charles Angina, Lieutenant Colonel (Lt. Col) Oceng-Ayo Smith, Lt. Col. Aguma, Lt. Col. Lawrence Edema to mention but a few.

It is important that we should honour the memory of our comrades and this memoir is a fitting tribute to our deceased comrades. I also pay homage to all the serving Officers in the current Uganda Peoples Defence Forces-(UPDF).—We will always remain as a Band of Brothers in the military fraternity and you have inscribed your names upon the pages of history!

My dream was to pursue a career in the military and my happiness was consummated when I was rewarded and commissioned as a military officer—Second Lieutenant (2ndLt.). I achieved a Diploma in Military Science of Modern Warfare as an Infantry Officer and that was surely an achievement par excellence. My aim was that through natural progression, I would work hard and with dedication, achieve the highest rank in the profession as an Army General.

I realized my goal when I cleared the first hurdle at the age of Twenty-Five (25). I over-came any impediment and graduated from the military academy and I was commissioned as a second Lieutenant (2ndLt) in June Nineteen Eighty Five (1985)

By January of 1986 I was promoted to a rank of a Lieutenant when I commanded a Company (COY) of troops and additional two Army detachments under my command.

However by the end of January 1986, at the pinnacle of my life, the dream came to an abrupt and brusque halt. The event was curt, unexpected and gruelling. The sudden end to my dream left a severe and harsh impact in my life, where I ‘went through fire and water’ but I managed to pull myself out of the fire and the rest is history.

My service in the Army although cut short by political trends in Uganda at that time, fulfilled a childhood dream of becoming a military officer which resulted in the acquisition and acquirement of the tools to analyse and interpret the various experiences and social realities in this memoir.

The desire to join the Army is like a calling which is born out of an individual therefore it is only those who have been called to this service that can naturally explain and fully enjoy the sense of an everlasting bond and comradeship.

It is impossible to thank and mention all those who individually helped me in the preparation and writing of this memoir. Nevertheless, the following deserve special mention: Hon. Ben Wacha (MP) who in February 1983, made it possible for me to join the Army. Retired Colonel Tony Otoa (then Lieutenant), who with my cousin Sweet William Egwor (R.I.P) encouraged me and Colonel Oboma Ayumu (R.I.P), Captain Oyile (R.I.P) and Flt. Lieutenant Olwee who inspired me with profound effect and my ambition was always to emulate them and become a military officer.

I owe a big favour and will always remember, be thankful and cherish the contribution of my dear sister Grace Akullu Engur and her husband Gedion Karyoko (RIP), who in 1977 took over the responsibility of looking after the entire family after our father—Yokosafati Engur was taken away from us and murdered by Amin’s men.

I will always remember all the help my brother Francis Atoke accorded me especially when I had been released from Luzira maximum security prison before I left for the U.K.

I am most appreciative and grateful for the financial assistance rendered to me by the auspicies of my Cousin Peter Okwir-Opio (RIP). It was this fund that paid Airfare to United Kingdom.

I want to open my heart and try to explain what makes me tick—my philosophy, if you like; the things I believe and why I believe them. Every man has a secret history which is more than a recital of events. That is the side of your inner-self that no one can investigate. No one can climb into your head or explore your heart. It’s just as well. Who wants to be shown the rust inside of the shining armour of one’s heroes? The observer’s judgement of a man is always inconclusive. It is not of much use knowing what someone achieved unless you can measure it against what he aimed at. Who can share another’s dreams, thrill to his hopes and understanding his fears? I believe that the true measure of a man is not to be gauged by the state of his bank account, the size of his popular following or the grandeur of his titles of degrees.

It is the mark on the soul which represents the point at which he finally harmonised his achievements with his ambitions, where he settled for what was possible as against what was desired; not so much a mark perhaps, as a scar—a scar made by his dreams coming to earth like falling comets.

This book embodies the ideals of hard work and determination, therefore I want to attempt the impossible and use words to convey the assence of the flame that burns in my mind and the ideas and convictions which fuel it—a flame which must die and be buried with me unless I succeed in passing it on to you.

DEDICATION

First and fore most, I dedicate this memoir to my father Yokosatati Engur (RIP) a devoted father and a freedom fighter. He fought for the emancipation of Ugandans from all forms of social subjugation but was seized in our midst early on the morning of 7th February 1977 by Idi Amin’s dreaded State Research Bureau operatives.

•   A righteous man walks in his integrity, even in death; his children are blessed after him.

Inexplicably, he disappeared and his body and remains have never been found since, ‘disappeared without trace’ and whilst there is no hope of ever recovering his remains, his memory will remain ingrained as an inextinguishable flame. His memory will always inspire me to greater efforts and I will always guard and defend his honour jealously that is why I felt obligated to write this book.

To my mother Betty Engur (RIP) who single handily raised us the children up to adulthood after our father’s demise.

•   Let your father and mother be glad, and let her who bore you rejoice. Through proper up-bringing and wisdom from parents, a house is built and by understanding, it is established, by knowledge, the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

Thanks to Cheelo Simaanya who was a bed-rock and a pillar in my life while I was writing this memoir and R. Connie Makumbi who contributed so much in the editing process of the book.

Finally, my special Thank you to Nyarai Lea Simbanegavi for her assistance in making this book get published. I dedicate this memoir to her.

I believe that people in all walks of life will find this book a source of profound yet practical insight.

CHAPTER ONE

Reminiscing the 25th January

Nineteen Seventy One

It is eight thirty in the morning on Friday 22nd January 1971. I and my siblings walked five miles to our primary school called Ireda Primary School located in the outskirt of the then Lira Town—(It is now a Municipality).

The rather brightly blue morning sky splashed with white clouds above, the last mist had refused to break up. Instead it had broken down the sunrays into a dull fluffy haze making the morning rather chilly for a typical January in Lira, Northern Uganda.

The wind was blowing cold during the early morning school assembly. The first thing I noticed was that the start time for the assembly was late and the few teachers present that morning were not very enthusiastic as they had always been and they seemed to be conveying messages to each other. I marvelled at what was happening because things did not look right.

I held myself together and resisted pouring out my heart to the other pupil but whispering, ‘what could possibly be wrong’. We waited for the assembly to start and when it did, the teachers never gave anything away but carried on normally with the sequence of the assembly to the end and we were ushered into our various classrooms.

The lessons begun as normal although late but just before break-time at approximately 10.00am, what happens next took all of us by absolute surprise. Another general assembly was called and this time instead of the duty master conducting the assembly, the Head teacher conducted the assembly.

The Headmaster at that time was Jeremiah Omodo who told the assembly that the District Education Officer-DEO had instructed that the pupils should be released early to go home to their parents for their own safety because the situation was not well. No further detail of the situation was divulged and the whole school dispersed immediately

Being the eldest among my sibling at the school at that time, I gathered them all together and we started walking the five miles back to our home at Aduku Road, which was also in the outskirt of Lira Town. While walking back home, in my little brain at that time, I contemplated about the event and I wondered, what on earth was happening!

I informed our mother about what had transpired at school and we were told to change our school uniform and stay put at home. By now our father who had travelled to Kampala City was still there and his absence kept us a worried. When the time approached midday, news started filtering through that there were problems between the Army and the Government therefore there was total confusion and commotion in Kampala city. At that time there was anticipation, sadness, and a sense of helplessness about what was to come in future.

Only a few people, probably men of the armed forces, knew what was going on. There was suspicion and gossip everywhere that there was a ‘COUP D’état’ in the making. That was the first time I was hearing that big and strange word that would in future be embedded in Uganda’s vocabulary and history forever. The situation carried on the same on Saturday and Sunday the 24th January. There were virtually no programmes being aired on radio, or Television and there were no news broadcast. Instead listeners heard only martial music being played on radio.

On the 25th of January 1971 at 7.30am we heard the news bulletin from the British Broadcasting Corporation—B.B.C. The BBC reported heavy gun fire, fighting and troop movements in Kampala City. Radio Uganda still had nothing to broadcast. Then at 3:45 pm Radio Uganda interrupted its day—long martial music broadcasts, and an unnamed soldier read a lengthy statement announcing that the army had taken over the government. Part of the announcement read;

"We, men of the armed forces have this day—25th of January, 1971—decided to take over power from Dr Obote and hand it over to our fellow soldier, Major General Idi Amin Dada. We hereby entrust him to lead this, our beloved country, Uganda, to peace and goodwill among all" The soldiers had acted, the statement said, to prevent the situation from deteriorating.

After this announcement there came some rather brightly blue afternoon sky which was splashed with white clouds. The bright sunrays turned into a haze making the afternoon instantly rather chilly. Immediately, at the behest of our mother, we gathered some of our belongings together and we got ready to our travel to our village, 25 miles away at a place called Inomo; this was where our dad was born in Apach district, Northern Uganda.

Sincerely, at that time in the 70s, not many people knew what a military takeover meant. The general public was naive, callow and gullible and they did not know the repercussions of having such a change of government. However, one thing was certain; Milton Obote was no longer the president of Uganda. At that time, people were still ‘wet behind the ears’ and not enlightened about national and international affairs. We all left for Inomo leaving our mum and dad behind.

On the evening of January 25th, Major General Amin made the following address to the nation on Uganda radio:

"Fellow-countrymen and well-wishers of Uganda, I address you today at a very important hour in the history of our nation. A short while ago, members of the armed forces placed this country in my hands. I am not a politician but a professional soldier. I am therefore a man of few words and I shall, as a result, be brief. Throughout my professional life I have emphasised that the military must support a civilian government that has the support of the people, and I have not changed from that position.

Matters now prevailing in Uganda forced me to accept the task that has been given to me by the men of the Uganda armed forces. I will, however, accept this task on the understanding that mine will be a thoroughly caretaking administration, pending an early return to civilian rule. Free and fair general elections will soon be held in the country, given a stable security situation. Everybody will be free to participate in these elections. For that reason, political exiles are free to return to this country and political prisoners held on unspecified and unfounded charges will be released forthwith. All the people are to return to work as usual

For children born on that day or night, who are still alive, those who are now forty years old plus, some already grandparents; those were the very words that would change the course of Uganda’s history forever.

On the 26th day of January, our father surprised us by arriving safely to our village hide-out. He narrated to us what he had witnessed in Kampala, and all that took place along their journey from Kampala to a place called Chegere in Apach. This place called Chegere was his Cousin Adoko Nekyon’s home. It was at this place that my father grew up as a boy and where he had attended school.

CHAPTER TWO

EARLY YEARS

I, Robeson Ben O’thim Engur (Commonly known as Bennazoo or Lord Engur) was born on 10th April 1960 at Lira Hospital to parents, Yokosafati Engur (RIP) and Betty Engur (RIP). I am a Lango by tribe and I belong to Ococh Pur Iwor Clan. The Langi people are part of the LUO descendants. The Langi occupy the central part of Northern Uganda with Acholi, Iteso, Banyoro, and the Karamojong as neighbours. I was born at the time when the family was living in a Mud and Wattle house at Aduku Road in Lira Town. I was born at the time when my father was busy with the struggle for the country’s (Uganda) Independence from the British.

I am the fifth born of twelve children namely, Patrice Aryonga (RIP), Christine Akedo (RIP), Grace Akullu, Hudson Ochoc, Francis Atoke, Oscar Okwany, Denny Oyaro (RIP), Fred Oyile (RIP), Teddy Akello, Harriet Auma, Jackie Acen and Henry Opio (RIP). We were raised in a positive social environment and we were never pampered as children so that we should become well-mannered, hard working adults.

Briefly, before we settled in Lira town, we originally came from a place in Apach District in Northern Uganda called Inomo. Inomo is about 30 miles from Lira town now Lira Municipality. My grandfather the late Mzee Sirayo Atoke and grandmother Imat Manjeri Atoke settled here long before my father was born in 1919.

My father came from a very humble background and was born to parents who were peasant farmers. He had a brother called Ayo who unfortunately died at a very early age. Another misfortune befell the family when my father’s mother (My grandmother)—called Imat Akedo died when my father was barely two years old. It was a tough time for my grandfather. Unable to cope with this tragedy my grandfather was contacted by my grandmother’s brother—the late Chief Akaki Jekeri (Nekyon’s father) to surrender the baby—(My father) so that he would be raised by Chief Jekeri.

Arrangements were made and my father was handed over (adopted) by the late Rwot—Chief Akaki Jekeri at Chegere in Apach District. It was at Chegere that my father grew up under the care of Adoko Nekyon’s mother and she took care of him just as her own and he grew up with Mr Nekyon.

My father later attended Boroboro Junior School in Lira District and later went to Nyakasura College in Bunyoro for his Secondary School education. After Secondary school education he joined Mulago Pharmacology School where he graduated as a pharmacologist before joining the independence struggle in the 40’s and 50’s.

INDEPENDENCE STRUGGLE

The liberation of the country was a product of concerted effort. If there was any significant role that my father played, it was that of being a vessel through which the struggle was presented to the nation and the world. The struggle had to have a symbol for it to be effective. The great men and women of the struggle chose that my father be that symbol. If this was a good thing, praise must go to those who made the choice.

My siblings who are older remember the stirring days of the freedom struggle when our father was always on the move, travelling around the country, even popping in and out of the gaol while our mother tried to keep a roof over our head and something in our bellies.

I would like to utilise this moment and thank His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of Uganda for having honoured my father Yokosafati Atoke Engur with an Independence Medal in 2010. The medal was awarded by the president in recognition, gratitude and appreciation for the active part my father played in fighting for the independence of Uganda from the British Colonial power. Being praised for what our father did is such a sweet feeling. Then we know that his efforts are being recognised and appreciated by others.

This medal meant a lot to our family because of the selfless, altruistic and gallant part he played in the independence struggle where he eventually relinguished the priced position of Party Leader to Milton Obote when they were imprisoned by the colonialists. The medal will forever be cherished, valued and relished and will remain as a jewel in our family for generations to come!

However the events that took place after independence in 1962 were diabolical because greed, covetousness and avarience gripped the leaders of the nation and he was forgotten. It was another courageous Freedom Fighter like Yoweri Museveni who recognised, appreciated and comprehended the level of self sacrifice that my father experienced in order to liberate and emancipate the people from all forms of subjugation.—Thank you, your Excellency!

But I suspect we are sometimes too eager to receive praise for ourselves. Normally when this happens, we end up forgetting those who initiated and those we worked with to achieve the very things we are being praised for.

Selfishly, we make ourselves the centre of a reality that is much larger and greater than us alone. We exaggerate our contribution out of all proportion. Without meaning to, we start radiating negative energies that repel others from wanting to cooperate with us.

Even without saying it, we send the message to others that we will rob them if they invest their energies, skill and initiatives with us because later on we will claim all the credit for ourselves. This just limits our natural ability to cooperate with others and so perform the many miracles that make human life a joy.

The paradox is that the more we acknowledge and celebrate the capacities and contributions of those around us, the more we deepen the strength, prowess and dexterity of our own character. We become poised to do greater things because others feel confident enough to win with us.

I do not remember a lot about life during the formative years in my life but I have bittersweet faint memories of my childhood. We lived in a big house at a place called Ireda on the outskirt of Lira and I enjoyed all social activities. It was at this time that my father served as the King or Paramount Chief of the Langi People. I do not recall the event when my father and others received the instruments of independence from the British on the 9th of October 1962, when I was just two years old.

However the only thing I remember vaguely was when we were preparing to go to the Soviet Union (Russia) after Uganda’s independence. This was the time when my father was appointed as the first Ambassador to the Soviet Union after independence in 1962. I remember boarding a British Overseas Airways Corporation—BOAC plane from Uganda to London. When we were in the United Kingdom, we visited the London Zoo. I can recall that at the time when we landed in Russia, it was very cold and something white in colour covered the whole country. I was later to learn that the white stuff was called Snow. We spent the first few months in a hospital while we were in the Soviet Union. In the hospital, we underwent several health tests and checks. This was also intended for us to get used to the climate, weather, food and the way of life of the Russian people. Let me take this opportunity to inform the readers that we were among the very first black people to arrive in Russia. The Russia of that time was very different from the Russia of today.

We left the hospital and went to live at the Ambassador’s residence in Moscow and that was where we started our education at an international school where I became fluent in the Russian Language. After settling in Russia, many Ugandans then came to study in the Soviet Union and our home was a meeting point for all Ugandans like Ali Picho (RIP), Dr. Oseku, Mr Kyeyune and many other Ugandans. I quite enjoyed my life in the Soviet Union although I was young but it was a worthwhile experience. In 1966 however, my father decided that I and the other three siblings should return back to Uganda because he felt that the educational system then in the Soviet Union would not favour us.

We returned to Uganda at the height of the 1966 (Buganda) crisis. The crisis was initiated because of irreconcilable difference between the then Prime Minister Obote and Sir Edward Mutesa who was the President of Uganda. Milton Obote wanted absolute power. The regime did not want to play ‘second fiddle’ to Edward Mutesa. During this crisis, a lot of atrocities were committed on the people of Buganda. To this day, these issues have been touchy, controversial and divisive in the history of Uganda. Obote excelled and Sir Mutesa was deposed as the president then Obote declared Uganda a Republic and he became President with absolute power. On returning to Uganda, we lived at Mr Adoko Nekyon’s home at Nakasero in Kampala for a short while before we were moved on to the very mud and wattle house where I was born at Aduku Road in Lira. (The building is still standing).

This was the place I experienced my first doze of hardship. We were put under the care of our paternal Aunt, Aida Amongi (RIP). It was during her care that I experienced untold, indescribable and unimaginable suffering and poverty for the first time in my life. She was naturally a bad, evil and wicked person. She was ruthless, cruel and merciless. She did not want us and did not attend to our needs and we literally became destitute. We longed to have our parents back with us because of the harsh conditions that we were subjected to by our aunt. Life generally became more difficult as each day passed and times were hard and it was such a misfortune that our parents trusted such a wicked aunt. As children, we were subjected to ghastly and horrific treatment. Whatever we experienced under her care can only be described as gross case child abuse and negligence.

On hearing our harrowing and traumatic stories about our experiences under our aunt’s care, when our father had returned to Uganda for a holiday in 1967, we were moved to Mr Nekyon’s house (now called Patera) in Lira Town. It was here that I began my Primary School education at Irada Primary school at Ireda in Lira.

I discovered the power of knowledge at an early age, possibly because education at that time was a rare privilege rather than a universal right. During those years, many children of promise and intelligence were doomed to waste lives because money was beyond their parent’s reach and means. Even now I burn with anger when I remember friends of my boyhood whom poverty incapacitated in the struggle for achievement.

I started school just as any young pupil of our time and of my age of seven. I used to walk for a distance of five kilometres to school every morning and back in the afternoon. During our early school years in the 1960s, such walks to school were normal because private cars were very few and there were no taxis or cabs for hire. Uganda was still very under developed but despite that, I loved my time at school.

In 1968, we again moved to a government house near what was the old Post Office (now demolished) and former Akii-Bua Stadium in Lira. We continued our education at the same primary school at Ireda and the distance to and fro was nearly the same and this time I was in primary three. It was then that our father started the construction of our present family home at Aduku Road in Lira. The construction was supervised by Amos Okodi (RIP). In 1967 my father received another Ambassadorial appointment from the Soviet Union to India. He came back to Uganda on a short holiday while he arranged to return back to the Soviet Union and wind-up for the new appointment to India. It was at this time that Mr Nekyon (A Minister then) informed my father of evil and malicious plan to get rid of all the founder members of the Uganda National Congress—UNC. The regime still considered these distinguished men who founded the ruling party a threat to his absolute grip on power in Uganda because these freedom fighters were very popular in the whole country. These ambassadorial appointments were used as a strategy and tactic for isolating these men—‘out of sight, out of mind’.

Mr Nekyon advised my father to decline the appointment to India and he humbly accepted. He later informed President Obote of his decision not to accept the appointment as the new High Commissioner to India. Meanwhile inside Uganda, the political situation was getting dire and dismal. After the 1966 crisis, the regime resorted to authoritarian and dictatorial rule, instituting a one party system in the country, where every organ of the government was repressive and undemocratic. Ever prosperous free thinking Ugandan became a suspect of the regime. My father’s actions and movements were also monitored since he had declined the appointment offered by the state (That refusal made him the enemy of the state).

In 1969 we moved to our new family home built by my father’s sweat and we settled in well. I carried on with my Primary School education at Irada Primary school at Ireda in Lira. I continued school just as any young pupil of nine years old. I walked for a distance of six kilometres to school every morning and back in the evening. To support the family, our father operated family businesses. The family operated a Butchery shop in Lira town called Uganda Butchery, and my father also went into business partnership with Mr Adoko Nekyon where they jointly operated a Total Petrol Station in Lira.

In 1969, the political situation became worse because the regime had created many enemies inside and outside Uganda and as a result of that, there was an assassination attempt on Milton Obote’s life during an International conference attended by President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania and President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia. It was a conference that was organised to launch the UPC—Common Man’s Charter, Move to the Left agenda. This agenda was Milton Obote’s brain-child, and was Obote’s answer to Capitalism. It was an experiment in African Communism/Socialism and it was Obote’s idea, pet project and creation that was doomed to fail from its inception. It was an asinine idea and it was a failure of astronomical proportions!

I was very fortunate to have attended that very conference with my father and I was present that day when Obote was shot at Lugogo indoor stadium in Kampala. I witnessed what took place before, during and after the assassination attempt on Obote’s life.

After the attempted assassination, the regime became baleful and as a result of that, the Secret Service and Police went into action and no one that they suspected was spared. The regime declared a ‘State of Emergency’, which was a very draconian measure at that time. That was followed by arbitrary and capricious arrests carried out and ordered by Milton Obote’s Cousin called Naphelene Akena Adoko, who was the head of the infamous General Service Unit—GSU (a security organization). The arrests were random, subjective and impulsive because nearly everyone who had expressed displeasure with the government became a target for arrest. The events that took place turned into another banana skin (embarrassment) for the government and an insidious trend was formulated towards Uganda becoming a police state.

The regime became authoritarian, used this chance to settle disagreements, rows and differences of opinion. The members of the opposition Political Parties were targeted and even Major General Idi Amin who was then the head of the Uganda Army was implicated in the assassination attempt. My father was implicated too but for some inexplicable reason best known to the government, he was not arrested. After these unfortunate episodes orchestrated and coordinated by the secret police, the government fell into disrepute because Akena Adoko was feather-brained to think of the outcome and consequence of their action.

By the end of 1970, there was no escaping the fact that the government had become very unpopular. The security situation in the country had deteriorated so much so that Kampala was awash with rumours about an impending military coup being planned by some officers in the Uganda Army to overthrow President Milton Obote. Idi Amin and Obote could not work together again because there