Please scroll to the bottom of the page to A) Download a FLYER containing this announcement. B) Read a document with additional information about JAFFAR AMIN'S AGENDA FOR PEACE, TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION.  


For information on Jaffar Amin's "conversations" with Asians expelled from Uganda by his father Idi Amin in 1972, please click on "Ugandan Asians"on the Main Menu. 

Jaffar Amin

Jaffar Amin is the son of Idi Amin Dada, the Ugandan President who ruled Uganda from January 1971 to April 1979 and was depicted in the hit movie “The Last King of Scotland” starring Award winning Film Star Forest Whitaker.

 

On Thursday, April 9, 2009, a historic meeting and Reconciliation Ceremony occurred between Jaffar Amin and Madaraka Nyerere in Nyerere’s hometown of Butiama, northwestern Tanzania, East Africa. The meeting and Reconciliation Ceremony was part of a Program offered and sponsored by the BBC World Service, spearheaded by Solomon Mugera, head of the BBC Swahili language service. It occurred on the eve of the 30year anniversary of a war that erupted between Uganda under Idi Amin Dada and Tanzania under Julius Nyerere in 1978 and led to the ouster of Idi Amin Dada from power in Uganda on April 11, 1979.  Thirty years after a war that should have been resolved by peaceful means, the two sons of the Protagonists saw it fitting to meet face to face for the first time and participate in a long overdue Reconciliation Ceremony.

 

When their fathers went to war and “dragged” other Ugandans and Tanzanians along, Jaffar Amin and Madaraka Nyerere were youngsters.  However, like all Ugandans and Tanzanians, they felt and experienced the devastating effects of the unprecedented war between two neighbouring African countries for which their fathers were politically responsible.  The historic meeting and Reconciliation Ceremony between Jaffar Amin and Madaraka Nyerere was to commemorate the 30year Anniversary of a vicious war that would not have happened if the fathers subscribed to the message the two sons wish to convey to local and global communities. The message being, promoting Peace in the world over War and advocating for the resolution of conflict through Peaceful Means and not Violence!

 

The historic meeting and Reconciliation Ceremony was also to honor the memory of victims of the war while speaking to efforts and a commitment by a younger generation of "First Sons and First Daughters" to “correct” mistakes made by their parents. In addition, the meeting and Reconciliation Ceremony spoke to the responsibility of "First Sons and First Daughters" to seek Truth and Reconciliation for their nations of origin following years of conflict between opposing parties, as Jaffar Amin is advocating for and working towards in Uganda.

 

Building on the historic meeting and Reconciliation Ceremony he had with Madaraka Nyerere on April 9, 2009, Jaffar Amin has embarked on promoting a message of Peace, Truth and Reconciliation while implementing projects and programs through the Al-Amin Foundation. Events are being planned in cities across Canada and the United States of America during which Jaffar Amin will engage audiences in “conversations” about his vision for Peace, Truth and Reconciliation in local and global communities. 

 

There will also be opportunities for audiences to “converse” with Jaffar Amin about issues raised by his father Idi Amin’s legacy and the lessons ingrained in the legacy, including the conflicting characterization of him as a “Hero” and “Villain” at the same time.  During “conversations” between Jaffar Amin and various audiences, Participants will be encouraged to discuss and offer opinions about issues raised by the portrayal of Idi Amin in the hit movie “The Last King of Scotland”, starring Award winning Film Star Forest Whitaker and any other topics of interest.

 

Where possible, Jaffar Amin’s “conversations” with audiences will include speakers who will offer additional insights into “conversation” themes, including “Mato Oput”, a Restorative Justice method currently being explored to end the horrendous war that has raged on in Northern Uganda for more than two decades. “Mato Oput”, which in the Acholi language loosely translates to "to drink a bitter potion made from the leaves of the ‘oput’ tree" is a traditional method practiced by the Acholi people of Northern Uganda for resolving conflict, forgiveness and reconciliation. This traditional method is currently being explored as a viable option for ending the war in Northern Uganda and bringing relief to the suffering Acholi people of Northern Uganda.

 

In 1985, a VERY successful variation of “Mato Oput” occurred between the tribes of the West Nile region of Uganda and the Acholi tribe of Uganda following an unnecessary “enmity” that resulted from the game of “Russian Roulette” with Ugandan Politics that persisted since the country’s inception. The unnecessary “enmity” had arisen from the tribalism that was part of the game of “Russian Roulette” and culminated in Idi Amin taking over power from Apollo Milton Obote in the 1971 Military Coup, resulting in loss of precious Ugandan lives. The majority of the soldiers from the West Nile region of Uganda who participated in the 1985 variation of “Mato Oput” were soldiers who served under Idi Amin. 



Please click on the links to A) Download a FLYER containing the above announcement. B) Read a document with additional information about JAFFAR AMIN'S AGENDA FOR PEACE, TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION.  For information on Jaffar Amin's "conversations" with Asians expelled from Uganda by his father Idi Amin in 1972, please click on the link "Ugandan Asians".