NUP Plans Special Prayers to Honor Idi Amin for 1966 Lubiri Attack

Kampala, Uganda – February 10, 2025The opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) is reportedly preparing to honor former Ugandan president Idi Amin Dada for his role in the 1966 attack on Lubiri, the Buganda Kingdom’s palace in Mengo. 

The commemoration, scheduled for February 21, 2025, will take the form of a special prayer (Dua) at Masjid Yusuf Bakuuba in Kisaasi, Kampala.Sources indicate that the event is being organized under the leadership of Latif Ssebaggala, a founding member of NUP and former Kawempe North MP. Ssebaggala, a respected Muslim leader and former legislator, is said to be coordinating efforts to recognize Amin’s role in dismantling the palace, a historical event that marked the beginning of the exile of Kabaka Mutesa II and the weakening of the Buganda Kingdom’s political power.

The 1966 Lubiri attack remains one of the most controversial events in Uganda’s history. It was carried out under the orders of then-Prime Minister Milton Obote, who had fallen out with the Kabaka. 

The attack saw Idi Amin, who was the army commander at the time, lead government forces to storm the palace, forcing Sir Edward Mutesa II into exile in the United Kingdom.Despite Idi Amin’s later brutal dictatorship (1971–1979), the planned commemoration by NUP appears to focus on his military role in executing the 1966 operation. 

Analysts say the move is likely to spark heated debate, particularly among Buganda Kingdom loyalists and political commentators who view Lubiri’s fall as a painful chapter in Buganda’s history.

The National Unity Platform, led by Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has not officially commented on the event’s intentions or whether it has the party’s full endorsement. However, the involvement of senior party figures, including Ssebaggala, suggests that the initiative is being taken seriously within the party’s ranks.As the date approaches, political and cultural observers anticipate reactions from Mengo (the seat of the Buganda Kingdom), religious leaders, and government officials. 

The event could have far-reaching implications, particularly for NUP’s relationship with Buganda, a region that has been central to its political support base.With history, politics, and cultural identity intertwined in this planned commemoration, February 21 is expected to be a day of mixed emotions for many Ugandans.