Mustafa Adrisi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mustafa Adrisi
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|---|---|
| 3rd Vice President of Uganda | |
| In office January 1977 – 1979 |
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| President | Idi Amin |
| Preceded by | John Babiiha |
| Succeeded by | Paulo Muwanga |
| Minister of Defence of Uganda | |
| In office ? – 8 May 1978 |
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| President | Idi Amin |
| Minister of Internal Affairs of Uganda | |
| In office 16 February 1977 – 8 May 1978 |
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| President | Idi Amin |
| Preceded by | Charles Oboth Ofumbi |
| Uganda Army Chief of Staff | |
| In office 1974 – January 1977 |
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| President | Idi Amin |
| Preceded by | Hussein Marella (acting) Charles Arube (de jure) |
| Succeeded by | Isaac Lumago |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1922 |
| Died | July 28, 2013 (aged 90–91) Kampala, Uganda |
| Spouse | 8 |
| Relations | Idi Amin |
| Nickname | "Mr. Foreign Exchange" |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  British Empire Uganda |
| Branch/service | King's African Rifles Uganda Army Uganda National Rescue Front |
| Years of service | 1951–1987 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | Military Police Force Uganda Army |
| Battles/wars |
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Mustafa Adrisi Abataki (born around 1922 – died July 28, 2013) was an important military officer in Uganda. He served as the third Vice President of Uganda from 1977 to 1979. He was a close helper of President Idi Amin. In 1978, Adrisi was hurt in a car accident. Soldiers loyal to him then rebelled. Amin sent troops to fight them. Some of these soldiers fled to Tanzania. This event may have helped start the Uganda–Tanzania War. As the war went badly for Uganda, Adrisi escaped to Sudan. He later returned to Uganda in 1987. He had health problems in his later years and passed away in 2013.
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Early Life of Mustafa Adrisi
Mustafa Adrisi was born around 1922 in the Yumbe District, Uganda. He belonged to the Aringa ethnic group. He went to Lodonga Demonstration Primary School. After finishing fourth grade, he left school. This was because Catholic missionaries tried to change his religion from Islam to Christianity. He never finished his education and could not read or write well.
Military Career and Rise to Power
In 1951, Adrisi joined the King's African Rifles. He received his training in Nanyuki, Kenya. He was promoted to lance corporal in 1952. After more training, he helped stop the Mau Mau Rebellion in Kenya. He was then promoted to corporal.
Later, he became a sergeant major. He attended police cadet school in Entebbe, Uganda. He was promoted to lieutenant while on leave. In 1967, he was given command of the Military Police Force. This unit was created to improve discipline in the Uganda Army. He also trained with Israeli experts and became a captain.
Over the next few years, he held several important roles. He was second-in-command at the Mbarara barracks. He also worked at the Mbuya army headquarters. He taught as a military police instructor. He was also the officer commanding the Malire Regiment.
In 1971, he became a lieutenant colonel. That same year, Colonel Idi Amin took power in Uganda. Adrisi was Amin's uncle and brother-in-law. In 1973, Adrisi was given command of the army brigade in Mbale. He became the Uganda Army chief of staff in 1974. This was done to calm down unhappy Lugbara soldiers. They had rebelled during the Arube uprising. In 1975, Adrisi was made a general and commander of the army. He later became the Minister of Defence. He was known as "Mr. Foreign Exchange" because of his financial dealings.
Serving as Vice President of Uganda
In January 1977, President Amin removed Adrisi from his army chief of staff role. He then made him Vice President of Uganda. Amin had not had a vice president for six years. He likely chose Adrisi to please soldiers. These soldiers wanted Brigadier Hussein Marella dismissed. Marella was an Amin ally who had killed a Lugbara officer.
Adrisi was asked to leave his Minister of Defence job but he refused. In 1977, a disagreement grew in the Uganda Army. Some soldiers supported Amin, while others were loyal to Adrisi. Adrisi had a lot of power in the government. He wanted to remove foreign soldiers, especially Sudanese, from the military. He believed foreign soldiers might not be loyal to the government. He thought the army should be made up of northern Ugandans. This would make them more committed to fighting for Uganda.
Tension in the army grew even more. Adrisi had a shootout with Colonel Taban Lupayi, the head of the marines. Even though Adrisi had threatened civilians earlier, some people saw him as someone who wanted law and order. He had released some civilians from prison. He also spoke out against illegal killings. Adrisi later said that Amin accused him four times of planning a coup. Adrisi always denied these accusations. By the end of 1977, Adrisi also became the Minister of Internal Affairs. He took over after the previous minister, Charles Oboth Ofumbi, died.
On April 19, 1978, Adrisi was in a car accident in Mbalala. His car was hit from the front by another vehicle. Then, his escort car hit his vehicle from behind. A shootout happened between Adrisi's bodyguards and the security people in the escort car. Several people died. Adrisi was flown to Cairo for treatment. He had head injuries and broken bones in his leg.
While he was recovering, Amin announced on May 8 that he was taking away Adrisi's jobs as Minister of Defence and Minister of Internal Affairs. Amin also criticized Adrisi for retiring prison officials without his knowledge. Amin also removed or demoted many government officials. Most of these officials had supported Adrisi. Many of Adrisi's followers believed the car accident was an attempt by Amin to kill him. This caused more unrest in the military. Adrisi himself never said Amin was behind the accident. About a month later, Adrisi returned to Uganda. He continued his role as vice president. He was advised to rest and went to his home in Keri.
In 1979, forces from Tanzania and the Uganda National Liberation Front invaded Uganda. They took control of the country. When they entered Koboko, Adrisi fled to Kaya, Sudan. He took over 2,000 cattle with him. His home was destroyed by the Tanzanian-led forces. He, his family, and their group first found safety in Yei. The Sudanese government later moved him to Lutaya village. Many former officials from Amin's government lived there. While in Sudan, Adrisi still said he was the Vice President of Uganda.
Later Life and Return to Uganda
In 1980, Adrisi, Moses Ali, and other military officers formed a rebel group. It was called the Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF). Their goal was to take back control of Uganda. The next year, Ali began attacking Uganda. The Ugandan government asked Sudan to stop Adrisi and his friends. The Sudanese government arrested them and took them to Juba for questioning. They were released three weeks later.
After Yoweri Museveni became the President of Uganda, Adrisi asked to return home. He was supposed to come back in January 1987. However, threats from some UNRF members who wanted to keep fighting delayed his return. He finally came back in April. Adrisi returned to Uganda without much money. The Ugandan government gave him a house in Arua District.
The Ugandan government later set up a group to look into human rights problems during Amin's time. Adrisi spoke against his former colleagues. The group did not find strong proof that Adrisi was involved in any terrible acts during his time in power.
In 2008, Adrisi became sick. The Ugandan government flew him to Mulago Hospital in Kampala. He was in a coma for a short time. After he got better and left the hospital, the government moved him to another house in Kampala. This was so they could watch his health. He died at Mulago Hospital on July 28, 2013. He had problems from a broken leg, diabetes, and high blood pressure. He was buried in a state funeral in Keri on August 1.
See also
In Spanish: Mustafa Adrisi para niños
