UPC MEMBERS in exile are flocking Lusaka from all over the world to pay their last respects to Obote before the body is flown to Kampala.

Other VIPs expected to pay their last respects are Zambian President, Levy Mwanawasa and former Zambia presidents Kenneth Kaunda and Frederick Chiluba.
The body of the late former President, Dr Apollo Milton Obote arrived in Lusaka, Zambia on Saturday night after a long delay in Johannesburg.

The body was received by the Permanent Secretary in the Zambian ministry of foreign affairs at about 7pm.

Uganda's minister of state for foreign affairs, Nshiimye Sebutulo and High Commissioner to South Africa, Mr Joseph Tomusange, accompanied Obote's family on the chartered plane from Johannesburg to Lusaka.

Supporters of Uganda Peoples' Congress (UPC) party gathered at Obote's home in Kablong, Lusaka and waited all day for the arrival of the body.
Earlier on Friday afternoon, the government of Uganda praised the deceased president as a "true African who struggled for the economic and political freedom of our people."

Sebutulo, who represented the government at a service in Johannesburg, praised Obote for his "contribution to the social and economic development of Uganda."

He said Obote's death had shocked many Ugandans, and "it has come at a time when his guidance to his party in this transitional period" is most needed.
"Government is committed to national reconciliation," Nshiimye told mourners who included Obote's wife Miria and son Jimmy Akena, "And we thank the people and the government of Zambia for looking after Dr Obote and his family for 20 years."

The South African deputy minister of foreign affairs, Mr Aziz Pahad, described the late Obote as a friend of South Africa and a Pan-Africanist who believed in the total liberation and unification of the continent as a first step towards the economic and political independence of the continent.
Pahad said Obote was overthrown in 1971 by Idi Amin "with the support of Britain and Israel" partly because of his socialist leanings and also partly because of the strong stand he had taken against the proposed British government arms sales to South Africa.

Obote's requiem mass was attended by a cross section of Ugandans living in South Africa, many of whom wept as the former president's casket was opened to view the body.

On Saturday, the body left Doves Funeral Home Chapel in Braamfontein, Johannesburg for the airbase at about 11am South African time and was seen off by the South African defence minister, Mr Mosiuoa Lekota, who is also the African National Congress (ANC) chairman.

There was confusion at the airbase as the body left four hours late - making South African ministers who were supposed to be present at the departure to miss the ceremony.

According to the family, the body will leave Lusaka for Uganda aboard a chartered plane at 8am tomorrow and will arrive at Entebbe Airport at 12 noon where it will be received by government and UPC officials.

Meanwhile, the government of Uganda has accepted that the family of Obote can hold a funeral service at Kololo Airstrip on Thursday October 20th, 2005.
The government has also accepted the family request to drive Obote's body by road from Kampala through Jinja, Iganga and Tororo; stay a night in Mbale and then drive through Kumi, Soroti then to Lira before taking it to its final resting place in Apach District.