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4/1/2004 - The Trial by Andrew Rice

AR Sub Saharan Africa Andrew Rice Fellow Institute studying politics development Uganda environs The Trial By Andrew Rice APRIL The Defense High Court Kampala December The courtroom hushed Caleb Alaka defense table begin cross examination He glanced witness standing Duncan Muhumuza murdered three decades before person motion chain events client probable arrest After months delays imprisonment unanswered allega tions defense Major General Yusuf Gowon about begin earnest You honorable court idolizing father Alaka began Is right Yes Muhumuza replied You court followed father developments interest Yes Of Muhumuza experienced attorney Alaka looked younger His black looked venerable occupant turned purple spots But appearances deceiving Yusuf Gowon defense attorney underestimate Despite youth Alaka already earned reputation Uganda criminal defenders client ranged persecuted opposition court martialed generals politician accused killing tribal prince Early success cocky bounded around courtroom pugna cious With characteristic bravado weeks before cross examination I tackle Muhumuza Alaka devastating cross examination store Gowon accuser Did interest visitors father asked Visitors generally Muhumuza replied Did visitor called Yoweri Museveni No As grownup known His Excellency Yowe Museveni Editor This fifth occasional series articles about disappearance Eliphaz Laki accused killing murder reverberations through Uganda history present politics close father Yes Have Sowing Mustard Seed Yoweri Museveni Yes Do recall whether mention father I believe Alaka attributed success charm voice In hierarchical Uganda speaking softly considered respect incomprehensible mumblers facing judge But Alaka He watched American court dramas The Practice Law Order techniques Like TV lawyer prone rhetorical dogging I LY ING And relished cinematic moment With flourish Alaka produced paperback Museveni autobiography bearing pudgy visage Uganda president cover He waved handed Muhumuza Can defense attorney asked Muhumuza turned passage where President Museveni described events January On General Idi Amin overthrew Milton Obote Uganda civilian president Museveni young Obote danger In witness aloud president described sneaked safety Tanzania after The drove Museveni wrote Eliphaz Laki Muhumuza father whose murder Gowon stood accused We crossed Tanzania Murongo Ferry January Muhumuza We traveled Laki Volkswagen through Kayanga where spent night Bukoba shores Lake Victoria Alaka voice rising prepared spring Are around Yoweri Kaguta Museveni called guerrilla freedom fighter I aware Muhumuza replied Alaka flashed Muhumuza incredulous Are aware Yoweri Museveni father trying overthrow government Idi Amin I Muhumuza replied As night I aware Are aware could happen someone caught trying overthrow ernment I witness replied He would arrested charged prosecuted If found guilty consequences would there Duncan Alaka feigned exasperation Muhumuza shucks answer Is pening knowledge No Otherwise wouldn dialogue Muhumuza replied Despite Alaka baiting voice unruffled People would disappear Muhumuza continued Some would lucky enough Then would happen others Others beheaded Muhumuza replied Oth dismembered uncle being Others stake three cousins Duncan I Alaka voice ferocious booming courtroom walls Are aware people arrested government Idi Amin buried graves Are aware I aware Muhumuza replied There something about Caleb Alaka Gowon defense attorney skinny prominent cheekbones toothy His suits appeared He reputation carouser ladies As I I would perpetual unapologetic tardiness blink attention Once stepped appointment saying would second A later I found street outside offices having brown loafers shined We going boasting shoeshine We first October office located heels story office building along Kampala Road As usual Alaka doing things People barged pushing front Meanwhile working phone setting meeting between President Museveni group rebels remnants Amin wanted surrender As talked fielded string desperate phone calls family client languishing Each smoothly assured caller coming immediately phone returned conversation Yusuf Gowon denied everything Alaka But defense attorney mained agnostic question client guilt Alaka assumed lower ranking soldiers probably truth confessed police murdered Laki They investigators after Those soldiers accused Gowon ordering Laki murder Realizing client blanket denials might sufficient acquittal Alaka devising daring politi cally charged defense He going history itself trial In September Rebels Yoweri Museveni invaded western Uganda Laki combatant there ample evidence collaborating Museveni The rebel Uganda president Caleb Alaka Gowon babyfaced defense attorney After trial Gowon little slightly innocent change Laki mitted treason And everyone happened people tried overthrow Idi Amin These soldiers Alaka doing supposed In Ugand defense attorney there histories Amin regime One version remembered world brutal dicta responsible deaths estimated countrymen The other professed Amin tribal brethren fellow Muslims tator African nationalist brought erful lighter skinned opponents It people killed apologists admit But Amin doing facing ruthless enemies undermining within Alaka defense designed capitalize these conflicting views history Indeed Gowon trial would throw Uganda division sharp relief At times I sense tribes going their corners determined defend president version truth Museveni western Uganda Amin northwestern province West Nile Laki Museveni tribe Banyankole The three defend Amin Laki tribesmen praised savior presi In West Nile people called traitor Alaka West Nile If Duncan Muhumuza people those resented years stifling their desire interest keeping peace defense torney would become champion tribe speak truth power President Museveni those hypocritical Banyankole Like members tribe Alaka people West Nile ready Amin crimes The liberators practiced their brand justice collective justice After Amin throw Alaka middle class family forced swamp lynch going Kampala Eventually escaped north father banker finan cially ruined It testa Alaka intelligence moxie relatively members tribe entrance exams Makerere University where earned degree Nowadays Amin tribesmen lived humili ating poverty Gowon exception The former general couldn afford fense After arrest government stipend Gowon source income since return exile Well wishers contributed defense Gowon absconded money The general tried promise Alaka house payment Gowon claim rightful owner Alaka ended defending respect tribal The Where stays Ntinda Kampala suburb pathetic To prosecutors their supporters trial simple matter morality Alaka things differently He professed believe Gowon Eliphaz Laki victim government punish favor tribe Why government prosecuting Gowon others alone Why years later The prosecutors might seeking justice single murder seemed absurd Prosecuting general ordering killed during Amin regime judging century pitcher throwing spitball If order Laki murder Gowon guilty playing rules It democratic government It dicta torial government Alaka The thing killing coincided attack You Gowon doing state established My tactic portray situation Even order official policy implementer This argument following honored defense crimes trials At Nuremberg elsewher courts rejected soldiers disobey immoral mands In Uganda though worked before accused criminals Many normal people thought sounded reasonable defense By large Ugandans recognized dictatorship often presents person impossible moral choices But putting history trial legal tactic political In trial there Alaka emotional appeals judge Though never admitted Alaka trying change focus trial cific crime larger atrocity Amin whole trying finger scales stirring ethnic resentments government could ignore I think Museveni interest Gowon music Alaka right President Museveni quietly pushed along investigation Laki disappearance giving Duncan Muhum thousand government money assist locating huming father He given eulogy Muhumuza belated funeral father But president careful about appearing sides Gowon tribesmen already muttering playing tribal favorites settling personal scores their kinsman expense Laki tribesmen resentment animated people West Nile after weren interested Gowon trial Kampala newspapers carried intermittent updates trial progress their inside pages But north Gowon Each courtroom packed wearing knitted Muslim women wrapped vibrant sarongs headscarves traditional dress West Nile These people angry They prosecution trial episode decades government campaig people West Nile powerless In July I visited West Nile families friends Gowon codefendants Mohammed Anyule Nasur Gille When I pulled Anyule village several hours Arua group several dozen villagers gathered under mango their anger govern They couldn believe their respected hajji local activist Museveni ruling Movement party could betrayed They pointed Anyule ragged young children money school Naima looked morose malnourished He campaigned Museveni chairman local village council He supporting ernment What happened These people arrest The defendants entirely without powerful friends however In Gowon village members during election campaign their representative parli ament visited campaign promise Gowon released bring described The politician Francis Ayume actually position something He Uganda attorney general I under pressure Ayume after trial completed shortly before untimely death automobile accident Choosing words carefully Ayume never improperly intervened Gowon friend money defense In Uganda added attorney general oversee criminal prosecutions Many lawyers Ayume would power informally Gowon perhaps exerting influence which judge assigned Ayume constituents something They thought detta government breached understanding arrived through process nesty Indeed Amin concerned about their skins about Gowon Like Gowon accepted amnesty return exile The pardon covered misdeeds rebels atrocities committed during Amin regime itself But former soldiers understand legal points lieved justification government promised investigate crimes After Gowon arrested Amin started worry Museveni going promise So former soldiers civilians thought perhaps veteran outside owned along street Arua largest West Nile So since Gowon arrest carefully monitoring comes knock doors The people West Nile figura tively being could change Some former Amin soldiers started talking reviving their rebellion against Museveni That worried governmen In May shortly after Gowon arrest letter arrived offices Uganda national police department Written terhead president office stamped URGENT letter signed presidential adviser The viser political liaison Muslim community friend Gowon I doubt government never should never interfere court wrote On other I concerned about misinforma hence misinterpretation negative political forces She gently recommended review terms Gowon amnesty agree government which paved return exile From I gathered former Army Officers civilians threatened presidential wrote She dropped suggesting H E His Excellency would taking personal interest issue The letter clearly intended message those would prosecute Gowon By arresting digging history Amin arousing ghosts Was worth Luzira Prison Kampala November Caleb Alaka I dilapidated guardroom waiting prisoners These themselves fession defense attorney confided There I In matter three trial Laki murder At moment lawyer Private Anyule Sergeant Gille worse General Gowon Not trial murder totally destitute unimportant Under Ugandan entitled court appointed lawyer But public defender would probably West Nile Anyule Gille weren likely trust anyone their tribe speak their guage But Alaka The young defense torney decided offer tribesmen legal services charge Of course Alaka carried certain condi tions Anyule Gille would willing dinate their defense strategy Gowon And would recanting those confessions Isn conflict interest I asked Alaka first No replied It strategic The prison guards narrow corridor dingy single small looking exercise Just I looked while Gowon Alaka spent several hours devising their defense strategy The general merely second command Mbarara battalion rebel attack duties coffins doctors treat wounded locations where going Gowon claimed would never contact Anyule Gille During police interrogation referred Swahili roughly translates trash In chain command And claimed unaware massacres Something about civilians I Amin henchman putting hands emphasize point I interested Anyule Gille would about denials I their confessions which outlined stark language committed murder I wanted question nobody seemed willing answer Who really responsible Laki death Gowon Amin The local people betrayed Laki their political Did themselves burden guilt After minutes waiting shambled The prison guards wooden bench where facing Typically murder suspect Uganda spend three years before trial judge But important Just elapsed between these fendants arrests their trial Still prison appeared taken Anyule looked hungry stretched tight angular Gille dozen years younger bedraggled He dirty white shirt along sleeves crumpled Muslim He scrap paper hands which coars years manual labor On jotted elements defense broken English The found I educated Anyule meanwhile fastened ground posture utter despondence The never expected stand trial After their arrests investigators believe would granted immunity prosecution fessed implicated Gowon In prosecution originally planned treat Anyule mission Laki cooperating He released Duncan Muhumuza promised security guard But prosecutors started doubt Anyule ibility Alaka began accused their tribal language Lugbara Anyule guttural groan began argue He promised immunity dammit After while sulked Alaka talked things Gille seemed receptive Gille began story Alaka serving translator Gesticulating furiously claimed confessed after police refused several He duped backing Anyule version events claimed private vestigator employ Muhumuza Alfred Orijabo At point Anyule seemed change heart He spoke Alaka He couldn understand government singled hajji He Orijabo tricked fessing Anyule claimed police written fession which couldn because functionally illiterate forced Alaka gotten wanted Both pudiated their confessions It seemed unlikely would willing additional details about Laki disappearance So I decided change I asked remembered about vasion general Cautiously I broached subject killings happened afterwards It always similar Gille When people rebels action Alaka Gille stern The lawyer added client never reprisals first Gille talking It clear question nerve It little unfortunate president among people trying throw government Alaka translated I turned Anyule If Gille saying I asked weren responsible killings If reason started civilians killed reason Alaka trans lated Amin started fighting Obote Obote Tanzania Obote started organizing guerillas They started recruit people villages They Tanzania Obote Museveni Then Museveni invaded The collaborators Because Amin presi order these people eliminated It driver would making directives He following orders Anyule couldn himself The justify words tumbled mouth He order Gowon Alaka translated As matter because being order above Even killed chief They guerilla I asked Gille question Who respon sible Museveni replied Anyule broke again He If dropped another started sting would accuse person brought asked Why person brought where civilians killed person brought Luzira That defense Alaka interjected Two months trial Alaka feeling guine One early January defense attorney nally first Anyule Gille written fessions A friendly prosecutor allowed several months earlier As I Alaka flipped through photocopied pages reading damning passages aloud You Gowon Gowon Gowon For first Alaka sounded worried The trial reached critical juncture In American court judge decides whether evidence admissible trial hearings Ugandan judges these determina tions trial When prosecutors introduced Anyule Gille confessions about judge would adjourn proceedings special evidentiary hearing Both confessions police interrogated would testify Then judge would decide whether statements admissible If somehow makes court trouble because court understand things Alaka drove If retracted I finished because powerful As always though defense attorney He That evening private detec Alfred Orijabo Orijabo figure prosecution He accompanied police officers arrested Anyule Gille He convinced confess first sonally later police Now Orijabo couldn testify couldn libeled either A after Orijabo death I Alaka chatting amiably newspaper reporter outside courthouse Shortly afterwards small article appeared under byline Headlined Key Witness Gowon Trial Dies story reported private investigator mental disorder Kampala asylum In Arua AIDS Orijabo continued worked Amin State Research Bureau which carried extrajudicial killings suspected enemies state Alaka contention highly suspect Among other things talked before death Orijabo which would child Eliphaz Laki murder But record keeping meant nothing could proved certain Tarring reputation served purpose defense Duri evidentiary hearing would prosecution prove police acted properly securing confessions Now style those TV defense lawyers emulated Alaka alternate villain finger Why confessions those details killer would Orijabo there How Anyule Gille known where Laki buried Orijabo How private detective Because killed Laki The stage climactic showdown between prosecution defense Then abruptly trial screeched Alaka disappeared For several everyone assembled court waited He never materialized Then evening there Alaka national vision sitting delegation grizzled fatigues peace signing ceremony It turned rebel group representing taken government Alaka rushed West Nile negotiate details approximately government offered rebels their Justice Mukiibi furious Back court judge glowered reading glasses empty defense table It unfortunate He abandons court without Maybe I newspa happening Meanwhile Mukiibi reading Gowon statement police He fixed passage where general Laki killed lower ranking soldiers their It their interests another lawyer judge Anyule Gille He journed indefinitely until court administrators could corral suitable public defenders High Court Kampala August Nasur Gille stood witness cross pursed He dressed stand donning checked blazer usual black shirt which Congolese In raspy Lugbara telling confess firing bullet Eliphaz Laki three decades Orijabo arrest cause I killed someone defendant through translator When I became offended anything It taken months trial track It proved impossible Lugbara speaking lawyers defend Anyule Gille So their violent objec tions forced accept tribes The public defenders weekend their clients prepare their defense But Caleb Alaka returned peace mission convinced stick strategy As Gille lawyer questioned client Alaka attorney passed notes whispered The defense hopes rested slumped shoul accused killer The prosecutor victory earlier He introduced Anyule confession Anyule public defender neglected mention client contention police coercion Justice Mukiibi promptly admitted confession dence Alaka stunned counsel mistake I tricked judge protested Anyule Arthur Katongole Public defenders Uganda everywhere respect Katongole haired country lawyer couldn speak client trust anyway The govern about Despite screw Anyule confession Katongole believed defense still stood chance If years criminal defender taught anything Ugandan police relied botch investigation In first phase evidentiary hearing three police officers taken stand They through their teeth unconvincingly Under Ugandan police supposed suspects longer hours without harging So Corporal Willy Waigo arrested fibbed about dates brought though anyone flipping through court could spent custody Dates tricky Waigo commanding officer explained The officers similarly dissembled tioned about Alfred Orijabo Most damaging though truthful testi The police officer taken Gille statement admitted scription He testified guided suspects When Gille brought recounted which summarized paper He Gille confession Even prosecutor conceded policeman methods unorthodox Now Gille stand Naturally accused killer version events sharply differed police As responded attorney questions Gille returning refrai I hungry In Gille telling detective Orijabo policeman Willy Waigo convinced Orijabo I should truth Lugbara defendant testified When rested Gille tribesman shouldn worry It wanted tective It Gowon He Orijabo office where police confession Gille reluctant Orijabo threatened He I should thing lightly The person I killed related Presi Museveni testified Orijabo warned I would I would He opened pulled pistol Gille terrified The officer uncuffed hands signed pages written statement Prosecutor Simon Byabakama Mugenyi private detective involvement posed The cross examination tried Gille story He berated fendant The police officer confes Orijabo nowhere denied anyone threatened I putting telling court Orijabo never there Gille obstinate ground I there I Mugenyi Gille claim motivated confession Why afraid prosecutor asked I afraid because Orijabo killed person defendant replied Mugenyi asked Why simply crime police Something about death something Gille replied So I scared Let prosecutor The scared because caught Be cause killed person That Gille replied High Court Kampala August On gloomy soaked afternoon everyone awaited Justice Moses Mukiibi The judge mulled question Nasur Gille confession Now ready decision For first months gallery courtroom press section As waited local reporters handicapped Their heavily Gowon favor Over prosecution table worried looking Simon Mugenyi placing Your guess Suddenly questions culpability crimes Amin longer seemed settled academic Four before Amin Saudi Arabia where lived years exile Even courtroom Arua estimated people marching Amin ancestral their respects The former dictator lingered several weeks before death during Ugandans engaged bitter debate legacy regime On radio newspapers around dinner tables conflicting histories clashed Supporters should accorded state funeral Uganda After argued Amin never charged crime In sectarian Uganda everyone Amin judge Justice Mukiibi Muslim High Court bench Several lawyers I talked believed religion would likely favor defendants You these people still think Amin regime their regime Arthur Katongole Mukiibi declined inter viewed article That reason court house reporters believed Gowon would A wooden opened gallery leapt Mukiibi entered courtroom The robed judge pulled sheaf papers business All right ruling began The judge gravely periodically pausing corners mouth white handkerchief The always prosecution prove admissi bility statement accused person Such never shifts accused Mukiibi recapped circumstances Gille fession He believed defendant custody longer This would consequence Corporal Waigo Mukiibi The judge picked additional inconsistencies police officers timony As spoke I heard groan emanating prosecution table Looking I Mugenyi sprawled across bench stretched closed tilted toward ceiling Then judge turned issue Alfred Orijabo Punching consonants private detective conveyed disdain believe police Orijabo merely peripheral player When question confession itself Mukiibi seized police officer admission rendered Gille story I difficult certainty these accused words Mukiibi In statement rendered inclusion foreign matter On ground alone I should reject statement I Alfred Orijabo played clandestine important police investigations particularly arrest bringing accused Kampala Since prosecution witnesses their clean disclose Orijabo exact conjecture Mukiibi ruled Gille confession The court adjourned Mukiibi walked briskly courtroom I Mugenyi disgustedly filing papers That winds It academic really I walked defense table where Katongole stood grinning I asked public defender surprised judge ruling Not really reasons other legal replied What I asked It terrible happening Baghdad Jerusalem Katongole giving knowing The before Islamic militants driven truck United Nations headquarters Iraq while Israel suicide bomber blown I think world coming point where divided sections defense attorney Nasur Gille smiled prison guards stairs holding The trial lurched along weeks after lingering relationship finished Simon Mugenyi soldiered examining witnesses introducing exhibits everyone would effect final outco We going through motions Caleb Alaka whose attention Gowon expired sometime February disappeared after Gille confession thrown He sighted boarding helicopter President Museveni brother Lieutenant General Salim Saleh The flying north leaders Lord Resistance Army brutal rebel group peace talks When Gowon relatives tried reaching phone would change voice pretend someone saying Mr Alaka answer A public defender appointed represent Gowon remainder In September I Duncan Muhumuza street He Kampala interview Uganda delegation United Nations New York I things going trial I couldn bring myself truth I suggested Mugenyi Mugenyi U ganda chief prosecutor Muhumuza They broke They A before rested their judge suggested Mugenyi Mukiibi message clear He giving ecution chance Otherwise acquit evidence Muhumuza Mugenyi later He wanted verdict guilty But prosecutors thought dropped there always Maybe piece evidence would light DNA testing would become commonplace Uganda could bring charges again It better nothing That evening Muhumuza I dinner Chi restaurant He tried brave I these always looking their shoulders That punishment enough But couldn pretense As talked dropped admitt couldn understand police prosecution deflate airtight I wanted accountable A little after September I arrived Mukiibi courtroom final There healthy crowd gallery mostly people West Nile usual Muhumuza dressed small group family members third When I defendants charges going dropped seemed genuinely shocked throughout trial always Mukiibi entered Mugenyi announced prosecution decision Behind Muhumuza stuck lower struggled control tears For several minutes courtroom completely silent Mukiibi scribbled Finally judge spoke I hereby discharge accused persons reading defendants names ranks numbers direct accused person released prison immediately As translator rendered judge words Swahili Lugbara Gille standing raised palms upwards Muslim prayer thanksgiving Anyule hands disbelief Gowon clasped hands together little direction judge Guards three downstairs basement holding After minutes released The accused emerged drizzle immedi ately enveloped crowd cheering relatives Gowon daughter danced celebration before phone share tives West Nile Anyule meanwhile His support Uganda ruling Movement party undimmed years prison Anyule gives speech praise President Yoweri Museveni Supporters embrace Yusuf Gowon outside courthouse after prosecution announcement dropping charges Behin stands Mohammed Anyule Nasur Gille right promptu speech Swahili praising President Museveni setting Back upstairs courtroom Muhumuza standing group family members hardly himself together It private moment appear talking I I walked another relative Laki Kenneth Kereere It these three murderers trudged through It hurts It would pleasing report everyone learned something Eliphaz Laki murder emboldened relatives other disappeared truth spectacle Major General Gowon trial chastened others served Idi Amin In opposite happened The newspapers reported prosecution decision exonera And though Simon Mugenyi service continuing quest justice Gowon trial seemed forever question holding responsible Amin crimes If prosecutors couldn secure conviction where confes sions seemed unlikely would prevail Everyone seeing history Amin Uganda present politics One tribe rejoiced trial outcome while other howled injustice Laki relatives tribesmen other families disappeared dismayed There those President Museveni blame At least government about seeking justice Amin victims maybe actively impeded Conspiracy theorists seized Gowon trial assigned Mukiibi It these commit murder Charles Kabagambe lawyer whose father disappeared under Amin frequently tended trial It present government accountable They appointed Muslim judge Meanwhile people West Nile satisfied trial outcome The night Gowon released family threw party general Kampala A large crowd wishers attended including At torney General Francis Ayume Someone brought slaughter returned general honor I Gowon Go West Nile people praying Allah Ayume Since release Gowon spending West Nile He thrown thatch ruins mansion built ancestral village chief staff He sleeps floor He broke quite I elder Gowon recently I peace When Kampala Gowon spends Africa wandering streets visiting tives hobnobbing friends One trial ended I outdoor restau skyscraper along Kampala Road He hanging buddies Gowon introduced around One friends pulled aside bespectacled captain West Nile named Isaac Bakka The heartened interest general trial It victory Bakka His represents things against Gowon friends chuckling talking about Jesus always speak truth truth captain saying Now truth Set Truth Justice So truth In prison interviews Gowon never budged contention nothing Laki killing He He never would given orders directly grunts Anyule Gille He nothing secret police He Amin never liked He always protect innocent Why I asked innocent people I power Gowon replied Truth Gowon powerful Former officers member Amin tribe Gowon might exercised authority within Mbarara battalion commander ferent tribe He Amin close called dictator uncle Truth Gowon stickler about chain command One reason fellow officers disliked I learned habit making around giving orders directly their underlings Truth friendlier secret police In report Amin atrocities I found reference incident which informer named Salim Sebi after fight Gowon threatened police officer charge dropped Sebi third Anyule Gille Laki Truth Gowon sometimes nocent Indeed people Mbarara lived through bloody September their lives Major Gowon One friend Laki arrested taken barracks would Then Gowon started asking questions about evidence When found there ordered freed When asking those questions I thought God years later Military fellows But Amin terror worked bitrary A powerful might spare moment charity Just easily might snuffed For every story Gowon mercy there undiscovered graves Most experienced Amin terror One Edward Rurangaranga Major Gowon ordered There denying Laki I pointed Gowon It almost certain killed soldiers Who should accountable killing himself The soldiers pulled trigger Other military commanders Amin Was anyone responsible Actually I cannot replied I about these things He incredulity cause talking edging closer truth There killing talked about those To discuss terror would invite death squads himself Any commanding officer defended His voice trailed silent moment considered When defend nally continued become collaborator Gowon monster He always never wanted people I believe But killing times power demanded I there September But based everything I learned investigation I fairly certain truth Yusuf Gowon murder Duncan Muhumuza understandably bitter At dinner night before prosecutors dropped I asked about those Ugandans better forget forgive could peace What peace snorted I think forgive I think apathy Muhumuza thought verdict would resolution would close wound father But about purgation healing among advocates international justice truth hurts In burden knowing great writes Priscilla Hayner Unspeakable Truths study truth commissions She cites study South Africa estimated percent people testified front country truth commission experienced psychological difficulties afterwards expressed regret having taken Justice after horrors imperfect trating Boston Globe reporter Elizabeth Neuffer wrote conclusion The Key My Neighbor House Seeking Justice Bosnia Rwanda It never arrives inches forward steady spans lifetime There means achieve human Muhumuza devastated denied resolution But I think mattered trying Courts bureaucratic institutions rules procedures burdens proof Is traumas personal unfath omable No verdict could redeemed Laki Muhumuza never forgetting father defying willful amnesia wounded society discover himself I think eventually things He stayed Uganda weeks after dropped Just before New Jersey house Monmouth County infant dinner He cheer He talking lawyer friend about bringing wrongful death against government In final analysis though realized already given miraculously happened thing needed I think important Muhumuza He father justice secure spirit peace tended marked grave overlooking family He reclaimed Laki disappeared This Ugandans dealt atrocities Idi Amin Not forgiving resigning selves injustices imperfect peace Through experience learned affords happy endings When comfort selves partial victories small consolations And maybe peace peace nation peace spirit peace important anyway What would justice meant Major General Yusuf Gowon Would sense Would individual punishment really redressed national sickness premeditated crime Gowon actor ensemble compassing almost whole society which played horrifying tragedy Uganda eight years 1970s He important character But tragedy Aristotle protagonist foreordained Larger forces historical human legacy colonialism fractured tality tribe venal politics greed jealousy vengefulness ambition hatred Uganda toward saster years after independence Gowon benefited Laki suffered agent cause The after release prison I visit Gowon which suburbs Kampala His place ramshackle collection rusted roofed buildings which housed dozen residents bicycle repair business furniture One Gowon relatives showed cramped sitting which separated white curtain The sitting rated signs bearing devotional sayings The Qur Has The Answer pages newspapers which something Ugandans cheap wallcovering My caught headline letter editor Idi Amin Is Not Our Only Brute Gowon relaxing couch It sunny afternoon dressed casually striped shirt slacks sandals He spending first prison receiving steady stream congratulatory visitors It As kneeling daughter ladled bowls chicken I asked general trial about Uganda current government He Museveni responsible ordeal through On contrary The former government I blamed lawlessness Thankfully longer I If someone faces truth found And final greatest irony grueling trial Eliphaz Laki killed protecting rebel Museveni President Museveni instituted legal system Laki accused killers benefit doubt In democ sometimes guilty This imperfection price protection That General Gowon sitting across loung unrepentantly couch perverse measure Uganda since Amin I Duncan Muhumuza I taken father court ICWA Letters ISSN published Institute Current World Affairs Inc exempt operating founda incorporated New York State offices located West Wheelock St Hanover NH 03755 The letters provided charge members ICWA avail libraries professional searchers subscription Phone E Mail ICWA valley Fax Web Site Executive Director Peter Bird Martin Program Assistant Brent Jacobson Publications Manager Ellen Kozak Institute Current World Af fairs The Crane Rogers Founda The information contained publication reproduced without writer permission Author Rice Andrew Title ICWA Letters Sub Saharan Africa ISSN Imprint Institute Current World Affairs Hanover NH Material Type Serial Language Engli Frequency Monthly Other Regions East Asia Mideast North Africa South Asia Europe Russia The Americas Institute Fellows chosen basis character previous experience promise They young professionals funded spend minimum years carrying designed programs study writing outside United States The Fellows required report their findings experiences field month They write subject formally informally The result unique reporting analysis periodic assessment interna tional events issues Andrew Rice reached email andrew_d_rice hotmail