President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has hailed the late Alija Latim as a strong patriot who made significant contributions to Uganda.
“It’s a shame that people who have made a great contribution and difference in this country in their lives were killed needlessly by useless leaders,” President Museveni remarked.
The President made these comments while meeting with members of Latim’s family at State House, Entebbe.
The delegation was led by the Secretary General of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong. Other members included Mr. Alex Latim and his wife Mrs. Meraj Latim, Mr. Omwony Oscar Otema, Ms. Sylvia Latim, Mr. Odoch Simon Isingoma, Mr. Anywar Richard Latim, Mr. Ekinu Martin, and Ms. Vicky Laker.
Like President Museveni, the late Latim opposed sectarian ideologies from his youth. As a member of the Democratic Party (DP), Latim served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly from 1964 until 1971, when Idi Amin overthrew Apollo Milton Obote’s government.
The strong ties between the Latim family and President Museveni were cemented in 1980 when Museveni went to the Northern region to launch his new party, the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM). During this time, President Museveni pledged to support the family in rebuilding their farm and estate.
Alija Latim was brutally murdered by Amin’s soldiers on his farm in Lolim, Nwoya District in 1979.