Godfrey Binaisa, Uganda’s fifth president, passed away on Aug 5, at the age of 90. He will be remembered as a humorous, sharp man who wrote the country’s constittuion in one night, yet was perceived as a stop-gap president.The Independent’s Isaac Mufumba spoke to some of Binaisa’s closest friends and colleagues.
Ephraim Kamuntu, former Minister of Commerce under Binaisa
Binaisa was a man with excellent wit, mingled with humour, which often was misunderstood to constitute lack of seriousness. If there was any nationalist that Uganda has ever produced, clearly the late president is one of them. Though Godfrey Binaisa was a Muganda he wrote a republican constitution after the 1966 crisis. There are very few people who could have dared to do that if they are not nationalists. In other words he put the interests of the country above the interests of a sub unit of the country. After he was installed as president he was not received with warmth and enthusiasm in Buganda. They looked at him as a reflection of the 1960s’ conflicts between Buganda and central government. They even called him Bin Isa as if he was a Nubian from Sudan. That was unfortunate.
Abdul Katuntu, Member of Parliament Bugweri County, FDC
He has been controversial, but he actually didn’t commit any big mistake. The 1966 and 1967 constitutions, for which he has been vilified, were political decisions and one must credit Binaisa. It must have taken a first class legal brain to come up with that document. The legal drafting of the document took a first class brain for which Binaisa should be credited. Nobody should vulgarize Binaisa’s legal skills. He was not responsible for the political decisions and therefore mistakes that were made during those crises and I think it is a mistake to accuse him of that.Â
Henry Kyemba, Former cabinet Minister under Idi Amin and Yoweri Museveni and Binaisa’s former colleague under Obote I
I interacted with Binaisa for many years when I worked in government in Entebbe and Kampala. For me he leaves a legacy of tolerance and not allowing bitterness to guide conduct of public office. He disagreed with a number of people, but he was prepared to forgive on a matter of principle because he knew that that it was impossible to agree on everything. He never allowed differences to be the basis for a permanent relationship. He looked at the situation as one of ideas where people could differ and still work for the common good. It was always a joy watching him debate and at the same time accommodate different shades of opinion.
Eng. John Nasasira. Minister of Works
. He wanted a government that was united, which we needed and eventually got as a movement system for many years. I will always remember him for that que
st to unite the country. I also thank him for coming back. We feel proud to have leaders who die in our country and are buried in our country.
Sam Kalega Njuba, MP, former Minister under Museveni, friend and colleague of Binaisa
Though he imprisoned me in the belief that I was one of the organizers of the pro Lule demonstrations that characterized the initial days of his regime, he apologized and said that he was misled. Despite that misunderstanding, Binaisa was my friend. We were of different ages, but I knew him well. Our deceased fathers were Canons in the Anglican Church and they were friends. His father was my godfather.
Binaisa worked so hard for Uganda’s independence. Despite the fact that he was best qualified academically, he put aside the comfort of his legal practice and joined others like Ignatius Musaazi and Kim Mawagi in the struggle for Uganda’s independence to the extent that he was imprisoned in Karamoja.
 Taire Idwege, Commissioner Engineering Department of the Uganda Police Force. Chief Pall Bearer during Binaisa’s burial.
Binaisa became president during my secondary school days in Iganga and he came to address a rally there. We never got reallyÂ
close to him, but I thought that he was a jolly man who could make fun out of even a very serious situation. For example during that rally in Iganga, pandemonium broke out when a guard saw a snake and opened fire. There was a lot of shooting and President Muse
veni, who was by then the Minister of Defense, had to push him down and lie on him just in case someone wanted to shoot him. After the chaos, Binaisa still managed to joke about the incident.
Col. Chris Mudoola, veteran of 1979 Liberation war, former MP Kigulu North.
I was still in the army when he was president and we also came back together with the Tanzanians from Moshi. I met him and worked closely with him. I think he was a man who really loved his country. Whatever he did was for the good of Uganda. Though he was misunderstood when he tried to post Oyite Ojok to Algeria, I think that he was doing it for Uganda’s good. You know that was a very difficult time. There were many forces at play – Kikosi Maalum, Fronasa, the Wakombozi. Compromising with them was
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