Felix Onama

Who is Felix Onama?

Felix Kenyi Onama was a Ugandan politician, who served as a minister for internal affairs and defence under President Milton Obote. He was appointed Minister of the Interior in 1962, and to defence in 1966, he had responsibility for both the police and the military. Born in the West Nile District, he was the uncle of future President Idi Amin, although the literalness of this claim is disputed. He served as leader of the Ugandan People's Congress in the neglected West Nile District, holding political views described as "near reactionary", compared with radical parts of the party. He also served as general manager for the West Nile Co-operative Union, handling cotton ginning, from 1960 until 1962. He also owned a bus line, which was nationalised alongside foreign businesses under the 1960 Nakivubo Pronouncement.

Onama believe he had close ties with the military, so when in January 1964, there was a mutiny at the military barracks at Jinja, Uganda's second city and home to a burgeoning military, Onoma was sent by Obote to negotiate with the mutineers. As a colleague of Onama puts it, he intended to "talk with the boys". There were similar mutinies in two other eastern African states; all three countries requested the support of troops from the British military. Onama was held hostage, beaten and had his shirt torn. He agreed to many demands, including significant pay increases for the army, and the rapid promotion of many officers, including Idi Amin.