Madina Amin returns home [Idi Amin still alive, says family]

The Monitor (Kampala, Uganda) ^ | July 29, 2003 | David Kibirige

[HAL9000]

Madina Amin returns home

He is alive, says family

Ms Madina Amin was due home in Kampala this morning.

The wife of former President Idi Amin flew to Saudi Arabia on July 21 to attend her ailing husband who is admitted to a Jeddah hospital.

Yesterday, CNN ran news flashes claiming that Mr Amin had died. It later transpired that the CNN journalists had misread a profile of Amin on the BBC website!

When The Monitor contacted Mr Nuhu Byarufu, the second secretary at Uganda's embassy in Saudi Arabia, the diplomat said that he had no new information about Amin.

Later, the CNN reporter Catherine Bond called The Monitor and said they had received the death reports from Jeddah.

Amin, 78, was admitted to hospital on July 18. He is suffering from hypertension and kidney failure.

Doctors wanted to carry out a kidney transplant but failed to get a donor whose organ could perfectly match Amin's.

Family sources in Kampala told The Monitor yesterday that the former president was still fighting for his life.

"I don't think Mzee is going to recover," said a subdued relative.

The relative also confirmed that Madina would return today with some of Amin's other children.

She is due at Entebbe International Airport this morning aboard a British Airways flight, BA063.

She is expected back with some of Amin's children, Higiro Amin, Mao Amin and Hussein Kato.

Before Madina went to Saudi Arabia it was Amin's sons, Mwanga Amin and Kato, who were attending their father.

Also travelling with Madina is an Internal Security Organisation agent who reportedly "accompanied" her to Saudi Arabia.

The government facilitated Madina's travel to Saudi Arabia. The former first lady, once considered Amin's favourite wife, departed through the VIP lounge at Entebbe.

Ever since The Monitor broke the story that Amin was ailing, there has been controversy about the former president's fate.

President Yoweri Museveni threatened to arrest him for alleged human rights violations and other crimes during his eight-year rule.

Mr Museveni has now indicated that if Amin were to die in exile, his body may be brought back by his family for a commoner's funeral.

However, the general public and some politicians appear more forgiving.

MPs Said Okuti (Arua Municipality), Anim Angupale (Arua woman MP), Ken Lukyamuzi (Lubaga South), Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga) and Jesca Eriyo (Adjumani woman MP) have asked the government to pardon Amin.

Amin seized power from Mr Milton Obote on January 25, 1971.

He was toppled on April 11, 1979 by a combined force of Uganda exiles and the Tanzanian army.

He first fled to Libya and Iraq before finally settling in Saudi Arabia in December 1980.

The Saudi royal family, which reportedly gives Amin a monthly allowance of $1,500 (Shs 3 million), largely barred him from active politics.

© 2003 The Monitor Publications

[Cheapskate]

Doesen't any one bother to check factsbefore they start flapping their gums anymore?
this is the internet age! One screw up by a knucklehead can really cause damage quickly.
One would think that SOMEBODY would to get storys right once in a blue moon.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

It seems that accuracy isn't important when breathlessly awaiting his death. I myself won't mourn for him, but this is ridiculous.

[mgstarr]

This just in, General Idi Amin is still...........

[Akira]

Does anybody have an address where I can send flowers?

[Shmokey]

I guess he's hanging on like Generalisimo Franco