Ernest Obitre Gama

November, 1940

Uganda

On June 5, 1964, he joined the army and in January 1965 was commissioned and went on a platoon commander’s course at Warminster. After a brief spell in the Congo (Zaire) he returned to become director of the Officer Cadets’ Training School at Jinja. In December 1967 he went on advanced military training in India, to the Defence Services Staff College at Wellington, New Zealand, then in December 1969 to Israel for a five months’ course in parachute training, returning to become commandant of the School of paratroopers in Uganda. In September and October 1969 he went on a military study tour in India, Russia and Czechoslovakia. He first emerged in the political limelight after the Uganda coup on January 25, 1971, when President Amin appointed him Minister for Internal Affairs. In April he headed a Commission of Enquiry into ex-President Obote’s General Service Department, a police intelligence organisation. In July, when President Amin was out of the country and a mutiny started at Jinja barracks, he began to “purge the army of opposition elements”. In February 1972, when there was tribal trouble in the mechanised battalion in Kampala, he was called in, as a former battalion commander, to settle it. In March, President Amin suspended him from Internal Affairs and took over the portfolio himself, but in the reshuffle of June he was reappointed to Power and Communications.

Ernest Obitre Gama

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politician

Background

Ernest Obitre Gama was born on November 1940 at Olevu Maracha in West Nile in a farmer’s family.

Education

Educated at local primary schools from 1952 to 1960 when he went to Busoga College, getting his school certificate in 1963.

Career

On June 5, 1964, he joined the army and in January 1965 was commissioned and went on a platoon commander’s course at Warminster. After a brief spell in the Congo (Zaire) he returned to become director of the Officer Cadets’ Training School at Jinja.

In December 1967 he went on advanced military training in India, to the Defence Services Staff College at Wellington, New Zealand, then in December 1969 to Israel for a five months’ course in parachute training, returning to become commandant of the School of paratroopers in Uganda. In September and October 1969 he went on a military study tour in India, Russia and Czechoslovakia.

He first emerged in the political limelight after the Uganda coup on January 25, 1971, when President Amin appointed him Minister for Internal Affairs. In April he headed a Commission of Enquiry into ex-President Obote’s General Service Department, a police intelligence organisation. In July, when President Amin was out of the country and a mutiny started at Jinja barracks, he began to “purge the army of opposition elements”.

In February 1972, when there was tribal trouble in the mechanised battalion in Kampala, he was called in, as a former battalion commander, to settle it.

In March, President Amin suspended him from Internal Affairs and took over the portfolio himself, but in the reshuffle of June he was reappointed to Power and Communications.

Personality

A Lugbara from West Nile, one of the most important ministers to be thrown up in the post-coup Uganda government. A lieutenant-colonel, he is a highly popular officer and widely respected by the leading Baganda and could have an important part to play in the future of his country.

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Ernest Obitre Gama

Background

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January 25, 1971

June 7, 1972