“It would be wrong to compare these two men. They had completely different backgrounds.

The view of Cabinet was that Obote deserved a state funeral and not former President Idi Amin,” he said. Cabinet, after a meeting of over five hours, chaired by President Yoweri Museveni on Tuesday, decided that Obote be accorded a funeral befitting a former Head of State in the interest of fostering reconciliation and the peace now prevailing in the country.

“It has nothing to do with one’s religion, but the facts on the ground bear witness to the statement I have made that the two were different and their contributions were different,” Buturo said.

The twice-deposed 80-year-old leader died of kidney failure in South Africa on Monday, ending 20 years of exile in Zambia.

Amin, who ruled from 1971-79 and was overthrown by a combined force of the Tanzania army and Ugandan rebels in 1979, died and was quietly buried in Saudi Arabia in 2003.

Buturo said the government’s role in Obote’s funeral would be limited to the arrival of the body at Entebbe Airport and the activities in Parliament and the Church in Kampala. He also said there would be no public holiday because it was not obligatory.

The decision to scale down the Government’s involvement followed a request by the family and clan leaders to have a private burial at Akokoro, Obote’s birthplace.

“The family requested that they wanted to have a private send off where they will perform their cultural rites and the Government has accepted,” said Buturo after a marathon meeting with family members and UPC party officials yesterday. He said the Police would be present at the burial.

He, however, explained that as is the tradition, there would be a gun salute at the burial before the clan leaders take over the function. On the burial day, national flags will fly at half-mast on all government buildings and the casket will be draped in national colours.

Buturo said the Government would meet all the expenses, “from South Africa up to the final resting place in Akokoro.” The New Vision has reliably learnt that there are some outstanding bills at Morningside Medi-Clinic in Johannes-burg where Obote died.

Buturo did not disclose when the body would arrive, saying another meeting with all the stakeholders would be convened on Friday.

“It has not been agreed when the body will be brought. But as soon as it arrives at Entebbe, Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda, the internal affairs minister, will receive it,” Buturo said.

From Entebbe the body will be brought to Parliament and later to the Church before being handed over to the relatives, according to the revised programme.

Asked whether the President would attend the funeral service, he said, “State House hasn’t advised on this. The president has been very instrumental and very much involved in what is going on and the Government will be represented at the highest level.”

Buturo warned those who “have a penchant for negativity to restrain themselves,” from condemning the late Obote who made his contribution and was no longer there to defend himself.

“That is not in line with what we are promoting and they are getting it wrong. Reconciliation means people will have to forgive although they may not be able to forget. The country will be better off when we show dignity,” Buturo said.

He said the government had set up a committee to look into demands by the family for Obote’s benefits and assets.

“The government is positive on this. We are of the view that all the assets and the benefits should be worked out and this should be resolved as soon as possible.

Sources privy to the State House meeting said there were objections from some ministers who did not want Obote to be accorded special recognition because of atrocities his forces allegedly committed in Luweero during the NRA war.

Details emerging indicate that the president tabled the matter and gave opportunity to all ministers present to voice their views.

Sources said tempers flared and emotions ran high but “the president was ready to listen to everybody.” The Attorney General had no objection to the proposal. The funeral will be a perfect send off for a man who played a crucial role in wresting Uganda’s independence from Britain.

Front cover of the book- Recollections of Uganda under Milton Obote and Idi Amin by Noel O'Cleirigh