If there is one picture which made the most rounds of circulation in the social media, then it should be the black and white photo showing some British Personnel on their knees in Uganda.
They were all on their knees before the rather satisfied former Ugandan Military President, Idd Amin Dada.
And yes, the event did actually take place.
The ‘wazungu’ did bow down at Idd Amin, as depicted in the photo, according to reliable information, but there is a ‘big’ story behind the picture.
Apparently, the policy of Africanization, which was being pursued radically in the post independent Uganda, had rendered so many Europeans and Asians jobless.
But the policy was introduced by Milton Obote; Uganda’s first President and when Idd Amin ousted him, decided the arrangement was too good to be dropped so Dada retained it with relish.
Many of these Europeans and Asians had lived in Uganda for so many years, and in fact most of them were even born there in the first place.
However, even though the so-called foreigners referred to Uganda as home, their immigration status was uncertain and hanging in limbo.
After Amin came to power, nearly 15 Europeans, who were jobless, approached Robert Asketill popularly known as “Bob Astles,” a Briton who was Idi Amin’s advisor and hatchet man, for help.
Bob Astles previously worked in Obote’s government until the 1971 coup d’état, when in order to save both his skin and the Uganda Aviation Services (UAS) that he was operating, Bob transferred his allegiance to Amin.
Now the British pleaded with Bob Astles to talk to his boss, Idd Amin so that the latter could grant them Uganda citizenship.
Astles promptly raised the matter with Amin who remarked in jest “Yes, but I must have my piece of cake out of it.”
This was very typical of Amin making jokes out of a serious situation. Then the beefy leader broke into a hearty laughter.
At first Astles didn’t understand what Amin meant but when he prodded him further he clarified that he could only grant the 14 Europeans citizenship if they agreed to serve as reservists in the Ugandan Army.
Not exactly a good deal for them, but being desperate for Ugandan citizenship a total of 14 Europeans agreed to serve in the Ugandan Army.
Still, Idd Amin had to put his decision before the Defence Council for the final approval.
After the next meeting of the Defence Council Amin summoned all of the European applicants at the Entebbe State House and declared their citizenship.
Ink trays were then brought out and they were all fingerprinted to become Uganda citizens.
But just when they thought they were done, Amin ordered them to kneel and swear.
According to Bob Astles the white men were so furious but they had to comply because they had already been granted what they were looking for.
“Amin had tricked them good and proper. They had got what they wanted. Now they had to give him what he wanted,” Astles recalled with a smirk.
Idd Amin Dada ruled Uganda from 1971 when he toppled Milton Obote Government, until Early 1979 when the Dictator was also ousted by the Tanzanian army during the ‘War of Uganda,’ which started in November 1978 and ended in April 1979.
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