Andrew Kayiira - The Moshi Conference

The Moshi Conference

The UFU executive in the New York had an election for delegates, chosen by secret ballot, the end result of which selected delegates to the exclusion of Dr. Kayiira the chairman of UFU.

Despite this Dr. Kayiira became upbeat in continuing contacting Ugandans he thought could make a difference towards the restoration of political sanity in Uganda. After the necessary consultation he decided immediately to travel to East Africa. Before leaving he contacted Bishop Festo Kivengere, in UK Professor George Kanyeihamba. He flew to Nairobi, where he liaised with personalities like Robert Sserumaga, Manuel Pinto, Sam Mugwisa and many others who attended a crucial meeting at the house of Professor Tarsis Kabwegyere. The late President Nyerere in face of the crowd decided on shifting the gathering from Dar es Salaam to Moshi.

The meeting of Ugandans in Moshi represented an assortment of Ugandan leaders who included Professor Yusuf K. Lule in addition to those whose names have already been mentioned above. Vocal at this meeting were Dr. Lutaakome Andrew Kayiira and Mr. Yoweri Museveni who at this time had not yet started using the name Kaguta. All assembled in Moshi agreed on two things: one, to unite in the effort of throwing Aminism out of Uganda, two, to avoid the blunder Obote and Museveni committed in 1972 when they clumsily invaded Uganda through Mutukula. The bones of contention at the Moshi meeting were based on ideology and leadership. While Kayiira led the pack in arguing for mixed economy, Museveni led the group which advocated for socialism. As for leadership Museveni argued for the appointment of the late Mr. Paul Muwanga to be the leader of the campaign for the repatriation with the assistance of the Tanzanian Saba Saba contingent. Kayiira argued for the election of Professor Yusuf K. Lule. Lule was elected.