The government and representatives of the UPC and Milton Obote's family have finally agreed a programme for the return of the former President's body, and funeral arrangements.

Following a meeting between the two sides yesterday, the government granted the party and the family's wishes for the state funeral service to be held at Kololo Independence Grounds (Kololo Airstrip) and for the body to go by road to Akokoro in Apac District for burial with stopovers in key urban centres.

IN MOURNING: Ms Miria Obote grieves by her husband’s coffin in Johannesburg on Friday. Photo by Andrew Mwenda

The family, however, now wants the government to declare a public holiday, and later build a national monument, in honour of the man who led Uganda to independence on October 9, 1962.
"We are grateful to government for what has so far been achieved, but the question of a public holiday remains," said Mr Adoko Nekyon, the lead representative of the Obote family.

Added Nekyon, a cousin of Obote: "The current [government] position [on a public holiday] is 'No' but they said they would consider it in another meeting on Monday."

But Internal Affairs Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, who chaired yesterday's meeting at the Cabinet Library and is the leader of the government side in dealing with UPC and the family, said: "That [no holiday] is the position of Cabinet. Cabinet met and considered the matter. What I have told you is the Cabinet position as it stands."

Body here Tuesday
About the monument, Dr Rugunda reportedly "promised to look into it".
According to the programme signed by Rugunda, Obote's body will arrive at Entebbe Airport from Lusaka, Zambia, on Tuesday, October 18 at noon and there will be an overnight vigil at the dead President's house in Kololo. (See detailed programme at left of page)

Yesterday morning the government evicted an army officer who had lived in the house for many years to pave way for repossession by the family. (See story below)

The body will lie at Uganda House, the UPC headquarters, on Wednesday morning before going to Parliament for a guard of honour. At the time of his death as a result of kidney failure on Monday, October 10, at a Johannesburg clinic, Obote was still president of UPC, the party he founded more than four decades ago.

On Thursday, Parliament will sit in a special session to pay tribute to a man who was a star parliamentary debater in his day.

A state funeral service will be held at Kololo Independence Grounds on Friday starting at 8 a.m. Kololo is the place where Obote received the instruments of power granting Uganda independence from the British colonialists.

Thereafter the body will leave for Jinja at the start of a road journey through Tororo, Mbale, Soroti, Lira, and Apac.

From Apac the body will go to Obote's village of Akokoro, still in Apac District, where it will be buried on Monday, October 24, at noon.

Charges incorrect
Rugunda said allegations that the government had objected to holding a national service at the Kololo grounds and the body being taken by road through different parts of the country on its way to Akokoro were "incorrect."

"It is not a matter we had discussed but when it came up we considered it as government and had no objection," he said.

There had been reports earlier that the body would go straight to Mulago Medical School for treatment as is required by the law. The government now says the body will be treated at the Kololo home.

Mr Willy Ogule, a family member whom Nekyon detailed to brief the Sunday Monitor on the negotiations, said the government had conceded to a "general amnesty for all the people with whom the late President went into exile. This we thought would help further reconciliation and bring harmony and healing of past wounds.

“Dr Rugunda was very positive about it. He said he would request the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to arrange the return of all exiles who went with the late President. Some of them are living in South Africa, others in Canada and other countries."
He said that the government had also agreed to take care of orphans Obote was looking after.

"You know some of the exiles who went with the late former President died and left orphans," Ogule said. "We requested that government looks after their upkeep and paying of their school fees and travel arrangements. There was no objection to this."