The story of Shaban Kirunda Nkutu has been told time and again, Idi Amin’s In-law, who was murdered by President (Amin) and buried a record number of times (twice).Not because Amin had come murdering members of his cabinet, in fact, Nkutu’s liquidation was the 8th, however, the uniqueness with which it happened remains imprinted on the historic walls of this country.Nkutu, murdered January 11, 1973, refused to flee from death even when he saw it coming. The Madhvani family offered him space on their last flight out of Uganda but he declined fearing that his fleeing would provoke Amin into replicating in Busoga, the massacres he was executing in Lango and Acholi.Indeed, after his act, Nkutu’s relatives organized a ceremony to bid him farewell to his grave! Three days after his farewell Duwa/ Pre-burial thanksgiving, Nkutu was kidnapped and his life taken away from him.With the sun out, and everyone watching, soldiers appeared at Scindia road in Jinja town, dashed into the retail shop which Nkutu was operating at the time, snatched him, and opened fire to scatter crowds that had come to tussle.Amin would later release a statement stating that Nkutu had run away and a bounty awaits whoever brings him to police. At the, he was being confined in Gadaffi Barracks, just a few hours from his murder.Kibedi’s letter to Amin on murder of Shaban Nkutu, who was buried twice by the PresidentBelow are some of the pictures that feature Nkutu a few years after Uganda obtained independence; President Milton Obote introduces his Cabinet to the visiting Yugoslav President Marshal Josip Broz Tito at Entebbe Airport in September 1970. Shaking Tito’s hand is then Information Minister Hon. Alex Ojera (killed by President Amin in September 1972). Left of Ojera is then Foreign Minister Hon. Sam Ngudde Odaka. Left of Odaka is then Minister of Regional Administration, Hon. James Ochola killed by President Amin in September 1972). Extreme right is then National Chairman of UPC and Minister of Works, Housing, Transport and Communications, Hon. Shaban Kirunda Nkutu (killed by President Amin in January 1973). Eight members of the 20-man (including Deputy Ministers) Independence Cabinet were murdered by Idi Amin between September 17, 1971 and January 11, 1973 Then Vice President Hon. John Babiiha (second left) presided over a diplomatic reception for the visiting UNHCR Chief, Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan (second right) in 1970. Extreme right is then Minister of Culture and Community Development, Hon. C.B. Katiiti. Extreme left is Hon. Shaban Kirunda Nkutu, Minister of Works, Transport, Housing and Communications Then Minister of Works, Transport, Housing and Communications, Hon. Shaban Kirunda Nkutu presents a gift to President Milton Obote at a ministry function in 1970.Then Health Minister Hon. Shaban Kirunda Nkutu addresses Ministry officials at Entebbe in 1967 In late 1971, following his release from almost a year’s detention without trial at Makindye Military Police Barracks, former Minister of Works, Housing, Transport and Communications Hon. Shaban Kirunda Nkutu (bottom right with red cap) was hosted to a reconciliation luncheon with President Idi Amin (2nd row centre in light blue shirt) by the Madhvani family at Kakira.
Seated on Nkutu’s right are his brother Haji Muziransa and Haji Ali Balunywa. Amin killed both Nkutu and Balunywa about a year later.L-R: Works minister Shaban Nkutu, President Milton Obote, Interior Minister Basil Bataringaya, Army Commander Maj Gen Idi Amin Dada, and First Lady Miria Obote at Uganda club in 1970. Amin a year later took power, detained Miria Obote and killed the ministers in the photograph. From The Archives: 1967, The Minister of Works, Housing, Transport and Communications, Hon Shaban Kirunda Nkutu (3rd left) is pictured with his Permanent Secretary, Eng James Zikusooka (extreme right), Buganda’s Prince Badru Kakungulu (second right) and then Deputy Works Minister Stanislaus Okurut (extreme left)