Felix Onama

Felix Kenyi Onama (1921-2001) was a Ugandan politician, who served as a minister in the government of Milton Obote (1962–71).

Biography A Madi, Onama was born in the West Nile District. He was educated at St Mary's College, Kisubi, and Makerere University.

He served as leader of the Ugandan People's Congress (UPC) 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 served as Minister of Works and Labour (1962–63), Minister of Internal Affairs (1963–65) and then as Defence Minister from 1966, giving him responsibility for both the police and the military.

Onama believed 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, he was sent by Obote to Jinja to negotiate with the mutineers.

In 1965–66, Onama was embroiled in the "Gold Scandal" that hit Uganda.

Following the tightening of party discipline which followed the gold crisis, Onama emerged as the leader of the 'conservative' faction of the UPC, favouring state support for existing businessmen, rather than the state capitalism increasingly espoused by Obote. In 1968, he was elected secretary-general of the Ugandan People's Congress for a seven-year term,

Amin, who had taken power in the coup, did not trust Onama and briefly placed him under house arrest in 1972.

Personal life Onama married Semmy, sister of Milton Obote.