Felix Onama
Encyclopedia
Felix Kenyi Onama was a Uganda
n politician, who served as a minister for internal affairs and defence under President Milton Obote
. He was appointed Minister of the Interior in 1962 (alternatively titled "Minister of Works and Labour"), and to defence in 1966, he had responsibility for both the police and the military. Born in the West Nile District, he was the uncle of future President Idi Amin
, although the literalness of this claim is disputed. He served as leader of the Ugandan People's Congress in the neglected West Nile District, holding political views described as "near reactionary", compared with radical parts of the party. He also served as general manager for the West Nile Co-operative Union, handling cotton gin
ning, from 1960 until 1962. He also owned a bus line, which was nationalised alongside foreign businesses under the 1960 Nakivubo Pronouncement
.
Onama believe he had close ties with the military, so when in January 1964, there was a mutiny at the military barracks at Jinja
, Uganda's second city and home to a burgeoning military, Onoma was sent by Obote to negotiate with the mutineers. As a colleague of Onama puts it, he intended to "talk with the boys". There were similar mutinies in two other eastern African states; all three countries requested the support of troops from the British military. Onama was held hostage, beaten and had his shirt torn. He agreed to many demands, including significant pay increases for the army, and the rapid promotion of many officers, including Idi Amin.
In 1966, Onama was embrolied in the crisis that hit Uganda. Daudi Ochieng, from the Kabaka Yekka
party, alleged that some members of the government including Felix Onama, the Prime Minister Obote and Idi Amin, had benefited financially from the sale of gold and elephant tusks from the Congo
due to Uganda Army's operations in that country, all of which was contested by Onama. This crisis would lead to Obote's usurping of the powers of the Ugandan government.
Serving as sometime secretary-general of the Ugandan People's Congress, he was one of the leaders of the Uganda National Rescue Front
.
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n politician, who served as a minister for internal affairs and defence under President Milton Obote
Milton Obote
Apolo Milton Obote , Prime Minister of Uganda from 1962 to 1966 and President of Uganda from 1966 to 1971, then again from 1980 to 1985. He was a Ugandan political leader who led Uganda towards independence from the British colonial administration in 1962.He was overthrown by Idi Amin in 1971, but...
. He was appointed Minister of the Interior in 1962 (alternatively titled "Minister of Works and Labour"), and to defence in 1966, he had responsibility for both the police and the military. Born in the West Nile District, he was the uncle of future President Idi Amin
Idi Amin
Idi Amin Dada was a military leader and President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. Amin joined the British colonial regiment, the King's African Rifles in 1946. Eventually he held the rank of Major General in the post-colonial Ugandan Army and became its Commander before seizing power in the military...
, although the literalness of this claim is disputed. He served as leader of the Ugandan People's Congress in the neglected West Nile District, holding political views described as "near reactionary", compared with radical parts of the party. He also served as general manager for the West Nile Co-operative Union, handling cotton gin
Cotton gin
A cotton gin is a machine that quickly and easily separates cotton fibers from their seeds, a job formerly performed painstakingly by hand...
ning, from 1960 until 1962. He also owned a bus line, which was nationalised alongside foreign businesses under the 1960 Nakivubo Pronouncement
Nakivubo Pronouncement
The Nakivubo Pronouncement was a commitment issued by Milton Obote, of the ruling party of Uganda, the Uganda Peoples Congress, in 1970. It outlined the increased nationalisation of major industries as part of the move towards socialism described by the Common Man's Charter of 1969...
.
Onama believe he had close ties with the military, so when in January 1964, there was a mutiny at the military barracks at Jinja
Jinja, Uganda
Jinja is the largest town in Uganda, Africa. It is the second busiest commercial center in the country, after Kampala, Uganda's capital and only city. Jinja was established in 1907.-Location:...
, Uganda's second city and home to a burgeoning military, Onoma was sent by Obote to negotiate with the mutineers. As a colleague of Onama puts it, he intended to "talk with the boys". There were similar mutinies in two other eastern African states; all three countries requested the support of troops from the British military. Onama was held hostage, beaten and had his shirt torn. He agreed to many demands, including significant pay increases for the army, and the rapid promotion of many officers, including Idi Amin.
In 1966, Onama was embrolied in the crisis that hit Uganda. Daudi Ochieng, from the Kabaka Yekka
Kabaka Yekka
Kabaka Yekka was a monarchist political party in Uganda. The party's name means 'king only' in the Ganda language language, Kabaka being the title of the King of the kingdom of Buganda....
party, alleged that some members of the government including Felix Onama, the Prime Minister Obote and Idi Amin, had benefited financially from the sale of gold and elephant tusks from the Congo
Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville)
The Republic of the Congo was an independent republic established following the independence granted to the former colony of the Belgian Congo in 1960...
due to Uganda Army's operations in that country, all of which was contested by Onama. This crisis would lead to Obote's usurping of the powers of the Ugandan government.
Serving as sometime secretary-general of the Ugandan People's Congress, he was one of the leaders of the Uganda National Rescue Front
Uganda National Rescue Front
The Uganda National Rescue Front , refers to two former armed rebel groups in Uganda's West Nile sub-region that first opposed, then became incorporated into the Ugandan armed forces.-UNRF:...
.