Prof. Tasis Kabwegere Honors late HE. Benjamin Mkapa

KAMPALA - The Former Minister of General Duties Office of the President, Hon. Tarsis Kabwegere has commended the East Africa's Community political icon, former president of the republic of Tanzania and Ex Cavendish University Chancellor, the late H.E Benjamin Mkapa for pursuing diplomacy, correctness, unity for peace and development.

During the 2nd annual memorial lecture for the HE. Mkapa organized by Cavendish University Uganda at Sheraton hotel, the occasion has been presided over by the former High Commissioner of Tanzania to Uganda, Amb. Dr. Aziz Ponary Mlima, the army spokesperson Brigadier General Felix Kulayigye, Prof. Tarsis Kabwegere as the chief guest among other dignitaries .

The theme for this year's memorial lecture has been titled , " Diplomacy and Contemporary State Formation in Africa- The Role of Benjamin Mkapa in Moshi Conference of 1978."

Prof. Kabwegere mentioned on Wednesday that 44 years ago there was the Moshi conference where HE. Mkapa played viable roles towards diplomacy and peace, and he is pleased to have been invited at an occasion immortalizing, remembering, memorizing, historizing and paying tribute to Mkapa.

Mkapa's mentor, president Nyerere refused to recognize Amin as the president of Uganda because he used a wrong method to overtake Obote, we appreciate Nyerere for opposing Amin as a fountain of honor, he said.

"The Moshi conference was short and brief purposely to help president Julius Mwalimu Nyerere in his mission to remove Amin but with help of Ugandans, since Tanzania was attacked and retariating while Mkapa was the then Minister of Foreign Affairs . "

His character, personality was a humble person in spite of the fact that he was a very important person and therefore also remembering him in the field of academia is by Cavendish University is great, noted Kabwegere.

According to Prof. John Francis Mugisha, the Vice Chancellor, "we are proud to be associated with Benjamin Mkapa who was our chancellor, he was not only a leader but a visionary whose contribution to the political history of Tanzania and Africa is aged to his annals of time."

As he is remembered today, he also played a crucial role in the state formation especially for post Idi Amin in Uganda because he played a big part in Moshi Conference which organized the leadership of Uganda after Amin's regime, added Mugisha.

The Moshi conference was a pivotal event in the political history of Uganda as it helped to plot the downfall of Amin's regime and the shapping post Amin era in Uganda as Mkapa was the then Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tanzania.

More about the Moshi conference.

During the climax of General Idi Amin’s dictatorship, Ugandan liberation groups called for a meeting in the Tanzanian city of Moshi to resolve ways forward on how to end the fascist regime.

The event was however attended by many groups that mad remarkable history until date, for example the Front for National Salvation (FRONASA) and Kikoosi Malumu, Gen Tito Okello Lutwa.

The late president Mwalimu Nyerere was represented by his then Foreign Affairs Minister the late Benjamin Mkapa who time later took on the country’s thrown as the chief of staff.

On March 23, 1979 during the Moshi conference Mkapa exposed that even if Uganda had annexed Kagera Salient in 1978, Tanzania was not interested in confiscating any part of Uganda.

“We, the United Republic of Tanzania have no claim against any Ugandan territory. We stand by international borders which our two countries inherited at independence,” Mkapa emphasised.

He included that, much as his country openly detested Idi Amin’s regime, it was the responsibility of the Ugandan People to replace him not Tanzania.

“It is true now as it was before 30th October 1978 that the internal affairs of Uganda are matters for Ugandans only. Tanzania has no right to interfere in them,” mentioned Mkapa.

Tanzania had also seeked support from the Ugandans in exile, in its previous firefights with Amin, it had tainted the image of Tanzania and those respective individuals.

Mkapa therefore expressed gratitude that Ugandans had accepted to take matters into their hands.

The conference was organized by former Lands Minister Omara Atubo and the Moshi discussion group was attended by the Save Uganda Movement (SUM) led by Yonasani Kanyomozi, Leander Komakec’s Uganda Unity Group- Lusaka.

The Uganda National Movement, Muthaiga discussion group, Nairobi discussion group and Uganda Freedom Union were represented by Prof. Edward Rugumayo, Mathias Ngoli and Lutakome Kayiira respectively.

Meanwhile Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) was led by John Luwuliza Kirunda, Democratic Party (DP) by Paul Ssemwogerere, FRONASA by Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Free Uganda by Dr. Martin Aliker while Dr. Kefa Sempagi attended on behalf of Fund for Uganda.

Other who attended included, Uganda Human Rights (UK), Freedom from Oppression, Organization for Uganda Refugee Services, Relief Educational Training Uganda Refugees now and Stephen Eriku’s Arusha the discussion group for Diplomacy.