Woman who hid Museveni from killers wants to meet him

Aujat Amusugut, a Ugandan widow based in Malaba, Kenya, wants a meeting with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni after saving his life during the fight for independence.

During a press conference in Malaba, Amusugut (pictured) recalled with nostalgia how she saved Museveni's life. She says she was 10 years old at the time.

"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 for you,” she pleaded.

Amusugut, who hails from Kataboi village in Koitang'iro, Tororo South district, says that there was "a plot to kill Museveni who lived with us, and we got the leakage".

"I took the trouble to dig a hole with ventilation and hid Museveni underneath. After that I covered the hole with banana leaves,” she said.

"For the entire three months, I was serving our president with special milk tea through a hole."

Amusugut said at 89 years old, she needs help to relocate to Koitang’iro from Malaba, where she was given accommodation by a good Samaritan after fleeing from Uganda for fear for her life.

"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.

Amusugut recalls how the Ugandan President used to socialise with the local community by drinking Akima (Busaa) and selling water to the local community.

The widow says the Uganda People's Defence Forces chased her when she sought an audience with the President, noting that she also wrote three letters that she believes have never reached Museveni.

Museveni, who lived in Koitang'iro, was a wanted man because of his agility to take over Ugandan leadership. This forced him to seek refuge in an area he was least known.

When Idi Amin came to power in Uganda in 1971, Museveni went to Tanzania where he founded the Front for National Salvation, which helped overthrow Amin in 1979 and later took power in early 1985 and 1986.

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.

“I used to travel to Bungoma to buy food for Museveni who hiding at our place,” said Esukut.