- Title: UGANDA: MILITARY LEADERS SEIZE POWER FROM PRESIDENT BINAISA.
- Date: 12th May 1980
- Summary: 1. June 1979: SV INTERIOR Former Ugandan President, Godfrey Binaisa reading oath of office in Parliament building, Kampala, and cutaway of priest and Binaisa's mother (3 shots) 0.24 2. May 1980: SV Crowd around truck near body of man killed in night of violence 0.35 3. SV Body wrapped in blood-stained sheet 0.45 4. GV Crowd watching as truck drives off (2 shots) 0.58 5. Feb. 1980: SV Binaisa standing at podium watching parade, behind him Army Colonel Tito Okello 1.05 6. CU Army Chief-of-Staff Brigadier Oyite Ojok 1.10 7. SCU Colonel Okello 1.18 8. SV Army officer receiving fly-whisk from Binaisa 1.38 9. GV Officer marching across parade ground and receiving bow and arrow from Binaisa (2 shots) 1.54 10. SV Tanzanian officers watch ceremony (bright green uniforms) and Tanzanian military commander Major General Musugura (2 shots) 2.13 11. CU Binaisa speaking in English 1.54 BINAISA: "I wish to stress that today is the beginning, and not the end, of a gigantic mission. As you pass out, let me remind you that you are going to form the nucleus of the UNLA -- a force of highly-disciplined well-trained men, taking the interests of the people of this country as a top priority. Your prime duty is to defend the lives and property of the people of Uganda against external and internal threats." Initials BB/ Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 1st February 2016 18:39
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- Location: KAMPALA, NAGURU NEAR KAMPALA AND JINJA, UGANDA
- Country: Uganda
- Reuters ID: LVACKIJP1XKF1P8834IMKNP3UON1
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Military leaders seized power in Uganda on Sunday (11 May) after an attempt by President Godfrey Binaisa to dismiss one of the country's most powerful soldiers, Army Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier David Oyite Ojok. Troops loyal to the Brigadier took over the state radio station in the capital, Kampala, and announced the suspension of foreign money exchanges.
SYNOPSIS: When Doctor Binaisa took the Presidential oath in June last year, he also inherited the troubles of a Government split by tribal differences with the ruling Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF). He was elected by the Front, with its many differing ideologies, to replace President Yusufu Lule. The Front's consultative council had passed a vote of "no confidence" in President Lule.
Thirteen months later, may Ugandans have spoken of living in fear. In Kampala, law and order remain major problems. Despite an eight-hour curfew, gunfire has been heard at night. Earlier this month (May), a man was killed in a night of violence in the Naguru Housing Estate near Kampala. These people, his friends and relatives, said they feared the UNLF Army soldiers, who had been in the area looking for hidden weapons.
In February, President Binaisa and Army leaders, including Brigadier Oyite-Ojok, observed the passing-out ceremonies of Ugandan officers. The President had just resolved a government crisis over the dismissal of Internal Affairs Minister, Paul Munjanga, by giving him the Labour portfolio.
Even then, there were signs of growing unrest. President Binaisa had attempted to strengthen his hold by reshuffling his cabinet to demote rivals and promote supporters. Talk of possible coups was rife. The twenty-thousand Tanzanian soldiers who helped oust Idi Amin found they were becoming increasingly the target of popular resentment. Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere said he would pull them out. In April, former President Milton Obote, who had been in exile for nine years, promised to return to Uganda to contest the elections. He had been increasingly critical of Binaisa's government. Obote has strong support in the new Ugandan army, with Brigadier Ojok a leading Obote supporter. Ironically, some of the men whom President Binaisa told in February to defend Uganda against external and internal threats are among those who have now seized power.
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