Book Reveals How CID Head's Investigation of Idi Amin Led to His Execution

A new book, “Bloodshed for Power: The Assassination of Uganda,” sheds light on the tragic story of Mohamed Hassan, the former head of Uganda’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) during the Milton Obote regime. Launched recently in Kampala, the book is a collection of Hassan’s memoirs, compiled by his son, Mohsin Hassan.

Hassan’s career in Uganda’s police force saw a rapid ascent, culminating in his leadership of the CID. This position placed him at the center of the nation’s most significant cases, including the murder of a senior army officer and his wife. The investigation pointed towards a then-rising young officer, Idi Amin Dada.

As Amin consolidated power, becoming president in 1971, any potential threats to his authority were systematically removed. Hassan, who had investigated Amin for the earlier murder, became a primary target. The book recounts Hassan’s unwavering commitment to justice, which led to his imprisonment, torture, and eventual execution without trial under Amin’s brutal regime.

Mohsin Hassan asserts that his father and his colleagues gathered substantial evidence linking Idi Amin to the brigadier’s murder. This investigation, he believes, sealed his father’s fate. The book highlights over 80 assassinations during Amin’s rule, arguing that the murder of Brigadier Okoya was a pivotal moment that irrevocably altered Uganda’s modern history, paving the way for widespread bloodshed and human rights abuses.

Despite opportunities to flee after Amin’s coup, Hassan remained, believing his position as a civil servant shielded him. This decision, his son notes with bewilderment, led to his suffering and death. The family, residing in the UK at the time, was spared Amin’s atrocities but faced financial hardship after Hassan’s death.

Professor Charles Kwesiga, a survivor of Amin’s detention camps, was present at the book launch and shared his own harrowing experiences. He recounted the mass killings at Mutukula, where Mohamed Hassan was among the executed. The book is available at Aristoc Booklex for Shs 100,000.

Source: The Observer (Uganda)