Somalia: Quran teacher refutes reports that he's ex-Ugandan President Idi Amin's son

MOGADISHU - A Quran teacher based in Arbiska, Somalia has refuted claims that he's one of many children sired by ex-Ugandan ruler Idi Amin Dada.

Sheikh Abdullahi on Thursday termed reports by Uganda's New Vision as 'inaccurate and misleading' adding that he's a 'Somali and not Ugandan'.

News about Sheikh Abdullahi's alleged Ugandan roots surfaced on Sunday when a delegation of Ugandan MPs visited Arbiska Forward Operating Base (FOB) in the outskirts of Mogadishu. It's manned by UPDF.

The delegation which was led by Ugandan Defense Minister Col Charles Okello, was allegedly introduced to Sheikh Abdullahi by local security team as the son of Idi Amin. 

According to the New Vision report, Sheikh Abdullahi is one of two sons of General Idi Amin, who was born in his brief cohabitation with a Somali woman in Baidoa.

“I met with the visiting Ugandan officials to tell them the situation of my young son who was hit by AMISOM military vehicle and broke his leg in the past,” said Sheikh Abdullahi. 

"They took a photo of me and said I am  the Son of Idi Amin and that they will link me with my family in Uganda," added Abdullahi, insisting that he has no roots in Uganda.

The Somali Sheikh accused Ugandan delegation of taking advantage of his situation to propagate untruths about his ancestry. He insisted that he was born to Somali parents.

Sheikh Abdullahi runs an Islamic Madrasa/School in Arbiska area near Mogadishu. According to him, he's still shocked by reports run by the New Vision.

The Ugandan delegation under state minister for defence, Col Charles Okello Engola also visited a level II hospital in Mogadishu which is manned by UPDF doctors and nurses. 

General Idi Amin, a former Ugandan Army Commander, staged a successful coup against Milton Obote's regime in 1971 after it emerged that the state was about to charge him for misappropriation of funds.

His autocratic rule saw many Ugandan killed or tortured. He briefly enjoyed protection from the West and Israeli's before he was toppled in 1979.

The former military ruler, who married many women and enjoyed association with dozens of concubines, fled to exile in Saudi Arabia. He died in 2003 at Jeddah.

Uganda is one of countries that has contributed soldiers for peace keeping in Somalia. Under the AMISOM umbrella, the forces are set to withdrawal in 2021 upon stabilisation of Somali National Army.

GAROWE ONLINE