By Reuben Olita
A Ugandan widow based in Malaba Kenya, Aujat Summary Amusugut, has appealed to Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for a special meeting after saving his life during the advent to liberate Uganda from colonial rule.
During a press conference in Malaba Kenya, Aujat, who was then 10 years old, recalled with nostalgia how she saved the life of President Museveni, who has served Uganda since 1986 after toppling dictator Iddi Amin Dada with support from Tanzanian soldiers.
Imayi Paul, Aujat Emusugut and John Esukut In Malaba Kenya on Tuesday.
” I have sought a meeting with the Ugandan President for over 20 years, but in vain. Mr. President kindly accord me a meeting if you remember what I did to you,” she pleaded.
Aujat, who hails from Kataboi village in Koitang’iro, Tororo South District Tororo County, recalled how she saved the life of Museveni during the struggle to liberate Uganda from colonial rule.
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” There was a plot to kill Museveni who lived with us, and we got the leakage.I took trouble to dig a hole with ventilation and hid Museveni underneath after covering it with banana leaves.
She added:” For the entire three months, I was serving our president with special milk tea through a special hole which sustained him for the entire period. “
Aujat said at 69 years, she needs help to relocate to Koitangiro from Malaba Kenya, where she was given accommodation by a good Kenyan samaritan after fleeing from Uganda for fear of her life after accommodating the current Ugandan President.
” I also need help to sustain myself after losing my husband Inyabulet Osilo Nasanail in 2017 who served as secretary at President Museveni’s office,” she said.
Asukut recalls how Museveni used to socialise with the local community by drinking akima (busaa) and selling water to the local community to confirm his generosity.
The widow recalled how ganda Peoples Defence Forces chased her when she sought audience with the President, noting that she also wrote three letters but which she believes never reached the President.
Museveni, who lived in Koitang’iro, was a wanted man over his agile to take over Ugandan leadership; this forced him to seek refuge in an area he was
least known.
Museveni was born to cattle farmers and attended missionary schools. While studying political science and economics at the University of Dar es Salaam (B.A., 1970) in Tanzania, he became chairman of a leftist student group allied with African liberation movements.
When Idi Amin came to power in Uganda in 1971, Museveni returned to Tanzania in exile. There, he founded the Front for National Salvation, which helped overthrow Amin in 1979.
the 1980s, the government was in the hands of Gen. Tito Okello Lutwa’s military junta. Come late 1985 to early 1986, Gen. Museveni – then rebel leader – and his army moved towards Kampala and captured power.
A Ugandan businessman, John Esukut, said Museveni lived in Jairos Kenya for fear of his life, noting that they took care of him until his return to Uganda to topple Iddi Amin.
Emusut recalled how he used to travel to Bungoma to purchase foodstuffs for President Museveni during his refuge in Jairos Kenya to confirm that he is still their son.
Amusugut’s son, Imayi Paul, said their mother is suffering after the death of their father with 12 children under her care, wondering why it had taken over 20 years to seek audience with the President?
” The President should consider the sacrifice my mother undertook to save his life by digging a hole covered with banana leaves where he stayed for three months surviving on milk tea,” he said.
