Opposition activist Gen. Moses Bigirwa has made fresh claims about the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's visits to Uganda. Bigirwa insists that he personally witnessed clashes involving Gaddafi's security guards and Uganda's Special Forces Command (SFC). He also challenged accounts suggesting that local Islamic leaders played a leading role in prayers during Gaddafi's visits. According to Bigirwa, Gaddafi himself led the prayers.
Bigirwa claimed that he personally witnessed confrontations between Gaddafi's security personnel and members of the SFC at several locations in Kampala, including Nakivubo, Old Kampala, and Munyonyo. His account appears intended to challenge narratives about the circumstances surrounding Gaddafi's movements and security arrangements in Uganda. Bigirwa said that those who claim to have information about Gaddafi's visits were not physically present during the incidents.
Gaddafi maintained a long and complicated relationship with Uganda and President Yoweri Museveni. His government had historical military and political links with Uganda dating back decades, while Gaddafi later maintained close relations with the Ugandan government and made several visits to the country. Gaddafi was also involved in several high-profile religious and development initiatives in Uganda.
One of Gaddafi's most notable initiatives in Uganda was the construction and development of the Gaddafi National Mosque at Old Kampala, which remains one of the country's most prominent Islamic institutions. Bigirwa's latest comments revisit the security and religious circumstances surrounding Gaddafi's presence in Uganda, while placing emphasis on what he says were direct encounters between the Libyan leader's security personnel and Ugandan security forces.
The opposition activist has challenged anyone disputing his version of events to do so based on firsthand knowledge, repeatedly stressing that he was physically present during the incidents he describes. However, the specific details of the alleged clashes, including their timing, circumstances, and the identities of those involved, would require independent corroboration from official records or additional eyewitness accounts.
For now, Bigirwa's remarks represent his personal account of events he says he witnessed, as he continues to insist that those who were not present should not speak with certainty about what happened. The claims made by Bigirwa have not been verified, and it is unclear how they will be received by the Ugandan government or the public.
Bigirwa's comments have sparked renewed interest in Gaddafi's relationship with Uganda and the circumstances surrounding his visits to the country. The incident has also raised questions about the security arrangements in place during Gaddafi's visits and the extent to which Ugandan authorities were involved in his security.
Key points
- Gen. Moses Bigirwa claims to have witnessed clashes between Gaddafi's security personnel and Uganda's Special Forces Command.
- Bigirwa challenged accounts suggesting that local Islamic leaders played a leading role in prayers during Gaddafi's visits.
- Gaddafi maintained a long and complicated relationship with Uganda and President Yoweri Museveni.
