How Gen Idi Amin Reaped Big From The Israel Assault On Enttebe

How Gen Idi Amin Reaped Big From The Israel Assault On Enttebe 

It is exactly forty years since the Israeli squadron made a brave military decision to rescue their colleagues from captivity at Uganda’s major airport, Entebbe.

That night in 1976 not only changed the political landscape and socio-politico perceptions of Israel as a country that could not only defend its sovereignty but that it can also rescue its countrymen and women wherever or whenever they get in trouble in nay part of the world.

We should say that Israel managed to win total admiration from military strategists around the world and also asserted its reputation as a state that could take practical action whenever its provoked by its enemies. There is no doubt about the fact that Israel managed to win the respect of all nations of the world.

It’s that respect that has made it grow the wings of impunity and arrogance that has enabled it to abuse all the UN resolutions passed to rein it in.

And in due process, Israel is the only country that has managed to abuse human rights and commit war crimes without taking a hoot about the opinion of the international community.

You can as well say that today Israel enjoys a special status in the geopolitics of the world thanks mostly to the heroics of the ninety minutes at Entebbe.   

WHAT IS AMIN’S GAIN?

On the other hand, with all factors considered, you can also say that Israel was not the only beneficiary from the 90 minute at Entebbe.

Uganda as a country gained its place as a country that had a say in the global politics. By 1976, Uganda was only 14 years old. It was virtually not known around the globe.

Before the Entebbe raid , Uganda in particular and its head of state Gen Idi Amin in general had not done anything to attract the attention of the world.

The only thing worthy of mention that had come from Uganda since independence was John Akii Bua’s gold medal that he won at the 1972 Olympics in Berlin.

But even then John Akii Bua’s gold medal was regarded as a one-off by a small east African country.

But after the 90 minutes raid of Entebbe by the Israelis Uganda became the focus of attention to the world.

The world press started focusing on Uganda its president Gen Idi Amin. 

AMIN HAD STRUGGLED FOR ATTENTION

Before that Entebbe incident Amin was struggling to attract attention from the world. 

When he expelled the Asians in 1972, the British had got concerned but the world remained less bothered.

When he realized that he was not getting the attention that he craved for, he embarked on ridiculing the Britons.

He wrote several telegrams to Queen Elizabeth to attract her attention, but he was largely ignored.

When the Britons got economic hardships, President Idi Amin set up the save the British fund but it evaporated in thin air

At that time, president Amin felt so small on the international arena that in 1975 he decided to invite a French press to pick his story.

Amin then managed to tell a biographic interview to the French crew where he struggled to piece up details about his life in what later became his famous documentary.

But even that documentary remained largely inconsequential.

THE DIVIDENDS

But after the 1976 Entebbe raid, president Amin managed to hit headlines in the world press.

He became the most famous African president of his generation.

The international press started making mythical projections about him with some suggesting that he was a cannibal while others insisted that he was a buffoon etcetera.

The Entebbe raid soared president Amin’s popularity to unimaginable proportions that he became a mythical figure.

He became subject for film actors resulting into the release of so many movies.

And it’s fair to say that he became Uganda’s biggest tourist attractions. What is amazing is that the NRM government has failed to exploit his advantage by refusing to allow his remains to be buried back to Uganda.

If Amin had been buried in Uganda, Uganda’s tourist potential would have soared by 80%.

The Ugandan government would have reaped the much needed foreign exchange.

But in their wisdom they made a decision not to allow his body to be brought back to Uganda.

THE NETANYAHU DPLOMATIC  EMBARRASSMENT

And it’s said that when Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu came to Uganda early this week, he tasked president Museveni to show him Amin’s grave.

But President Museveni was reportedly embarrassed by Benjamin Netanyahu’s inquest for Amin’s grave site that it led to his earlier than planned departure from Uganda.

It’s believed that Netanyahu had planned a much longer visit to Uganda. But he spent just one day in Uganda!.

If the Ugandan government had swallowed its pride and allowed (forget about facilitating) Amin’s burial in his home area of Arua, there is stronger likelihood that Benjamin Netanyahu would have trekked to Arua and spend more days in Uganda than he did.  

its widely speculated that netanyahu , whose elder brother Yoni led the commando group that assaulted Entebe and lost his life in the process was also bitter with president museveni for mentioning palestine as a state several times in his speech. 
our dear president also made a fatal mistake of agitating for a two state solution which provides for the co-existence of Israel and Palestine as sovereign states. president Museveni forgets that Netanyahu humiliated American president Barack Obama for suggestion that it reverts to the pre-1967 borders.  

President Museveni'S gaffe speech reportedly prompted Israel to switch off the national television in Tel aviv. 

The visit could have ended in a diplomatic row that will take bother leaders many years for them to see eye to eye.

ASSURED PENSION

Lastly but not least, Amin’s risky decision in allowing the Palestinians to bring the hijacked plane to Uganda played a part in creating a permanent bond with the Arab world.

It’s his sacrifice for the Palestinian cause that gave him a safe home away from home in Saud Arabia.

You can say that if he had not made the risky decision to back the Palestinians, his life in exile would have been very difficult. He wouldn’t have been allowed to stay in Jeddah with all the luxuries and per diem that he got during his last days on earth.

You can even say that it was because of this that you see buildings like King Fahad plaza on Kampala road and Ghadafi mosque at old Kampala.

Therefore, while the Israelis can brag about their military heroic at Entebbe in 1976, you can also safely say that it was a blessing in disguise for Amin, because it shaped his life out of power.

Just have a look at this; Amin spent only 9 years in power, but spent almost 24 years in exile. You can say that it was important that he had made good Arab friends who kept him for two and half decades without antagonizing him.

If he had not made friendships with the Arabs he would have faced the same fate of his friend Emperor Jean Bedel Bokasa who was extradited from exile and put on trial and died a miserable life.

The author, Fred Daka Kamwada is a journalist, researcher, blogger and social critic.You can chat him up at kamwadafred@gmail.com or call him 0782480121

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