Feb. 02, 1973 – Ugandan Executes Eleven Criminals

Ugandan Executions Shock Africa: Twelve alleged criminals – eleven of them said to be ”guerrillas” and the twelfth an armed robber – were executed in Uganda on Saturday (Feb 11). Nothing novel in that -except that the executions were in public, and the victims stripped naked before their deaths. Neighbouring African countries have been shocked by this ”new low” even for the Amin regime. Photo shows Naked under his canvas apron, one of the alleged ”guerrillas”, Sebastiano Namirundu, contemplates his last few minutes of life before execution at Mbale

About the Archive

This is a digitized version of an article from The Times’s print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them.

Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions.

Full articles

In Uganda last weekend, 12 men were killed in exemplary public executions by firing squads. Some died without blindfolds, watching their executioners load and take aim. Most of them were in their 20’s; the youngest was a schoolboy, 17 years old. All were tried in secret by a military tribunal and convicted of engaging in guerrilla activities.

The Government’s evidence of guerrilla activities in recent weeks has been circumstantial at best, and no evidence against the 12 executed men was made public. The executions were characterized by a military spokesman as “a real lesson to the people of Uganda.” In other words, they apparently were intended as a deterrent to potential dissidents against the harsh rule imposed in recent months by the country’s President, General Idi Amin.

There have been other signs of fear on General Amin’s part of action against him. The Government has been warning that whole villages would be destroyed if their inhabitants were suspected of helping or harboring guerrillas. General Amin said in a speech to the armed forces, “If anything happens to me,, however, small, get your gums.” He has scarcely been seen in public recently.

The security measures in Uganda have strained relations with neighboring Kenya. The Kenyan press accused General Amin’s Government of harassing Kenyans in Uganda who are officials of the country’s joint railroad system. In answer, the General threatened thousands of Kenyans of the Luo tribe in the country with intimidation or expulsion. He later backed down, but not before some 200 frightened Luo families had fled.

Kenya’s trade‐union organization thereupon threatened to block the movement of goods from and to Uganda. If that threat were to be implemented—and countenanced by the Kenyan Government—the consequences to General Amin’s regime would be disastrous. It would put a stop to virtually the entire Ugandan export and import trade, since the landlocked country depends primarily on Kenya for transit facilities.

At the week’s end, it seemed likely that General Amin would seek to mollify the Kenyans and the dispute between the two countries would die down. But that depended to a large extent on whether the exodus of the Luo tribe stops.

The executions in Uganda were the latest of a series of surprising steps by General Amin that have made him the most unpredictable of Black Africa’s rulers. Some months ago he carried out the mass expulsion of Uganda’s Asian minority, mostly of Indian and Pakistani ethnic background. The Asians had carried out much of Uganda’s commerce and filled many of the professional posts, and their abrupt departure—many, as British subjects, were permitted entry into Britain—left Uganda with a legacy of dislocation and bewilderment as to what would happen next.


A 75-year-old woman sat at the bar in Rusty Anchor’s Tavern, waiting for her husband.

A 75-year-old woman sat at the bar in Rusty Anchor’s Tavern, waiting for her husband.

As she sipped her wine, a strikingly handsome man walked in, radiating confidence. He took a seat a few stools…

Read More


Golden Years, Golden Laughs:

Golden Years, Golden Laughs:

10 Cheerful Tales About Aging Wisely” Who says getting older has to be serious business? These delightful stories prove that…

Read More


The Irish Elk, also called the Giant Deer, was the biggest deer species to ever live.

The Irish Elk, also called the Giant Deer, was the biggest deer species to ever live.

It roamed across Europe, Asia, and parts of North America during the Pleistocene epoch. Standing about 6.6 feet (2 meters)…

Read More


Fossilized bones of what is believed to be the largest creature ever to walk the Earth were discovered in the deserts of Argentina by a local farmer.

Fossilized bones of what is believed to be the largest creature ever to walk the Earth were discovered in the deserts of Argentina by a local farmer.

Based on the size of the dinosaur’s femur bones, the animal is estimated to have been about 40 meters long…

Read More


Why some women in the part of the world stand to pee.

Why some women in the part of the world stand to pee.

In the past, the tale of Lanna women (Lanna is known as northern Thailand) standing to pee, much like men,…

Read More


Today, we honor the extraordinary bravery of Doris Miller, a U.S. Navy Mess Attendant who became one of the most recognizable American heroes of World War II.

Today, we honor the extraordinary bravery of Doris Miller, a U.S. Navy Mess Attendant who became one of the most recognizable American heroes of World War II.

On the morning of December 7, 1941, as the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Miller was serving aboard the USS West…

Read More


Nikola Tesla aimed to create a flying machine powered by ether, a concept he believed could enable space travel without traditional propulsion.

Nikola Tesla aimed to create a flying machine powered by ether, a concept he believed could enable space travel without traditional propulsion.

Sketches of interplanetary spacecraft found in the Nikola Tesla Museum in Belgrade were never realized due to World War II….

Read More


A great story about a little bit of ‘humanity’ during a terrible war.

A great story about a little bit of ‘humanity’ during a terrible war.

In April 1945, 2nd Lt. Peter During was a South African fighter pilot (N.7 Squadron) running missions over Italy when…

Read More


Imagine sweeping your metal detector across a quiet patch of forest or a lonely field, and suddenly hearing that telltale beep—a signal from the earth whispering of forgotten history.

Imagine sweeping your metal detector across a quiet patch of forest or a lonely field, and suddenly hearing that telltale beep—a signal from the earth whispering of forgotten history.

As you dig through the soil, your hands uncover a rusted dog tag, a dented helmet, or a weathered insignia…

Read More


Army Deletes Medgar Evers, Black Soldiers Section Name From Arlington National Cemetery Website’

Army Deletes Medgar Evers, Black Soldiers Section Name From Arlington National Cemetery Website’

The Army has deleted a segment honoring Black soldiers from the Arlington National Cemetery website, including Medgar Evers among others….

Read More

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *