A former bodyguard to Congolese dictator, Mobutu Sese Seko, is living in Arua in deplorable conditions.
Joseph Nyati, a frail man in his 60s, says he fled to Uganda in 1997 following the ousting of Mobutu by Laurent Kabila. He says that although he was retired by that time, he was forced to leave the Congo because he feared for his life.
Nyati now lives an abandoned house with no roof in Arua town. He survives by begging and says he doesn't even have money to buy water for a bath. He is covered with sores and head and body lice.
Nyati says he has no children and doesn't know where his other relatives are.
On Monday evening, members of Ragem Christian Community came to the old man's rescue. Ezekiel Kwokum, from Ragem Christian Community, describes the condition Nyati was in.
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The group has now embarked on a fundraising drive to help Nyati out of his woes.
At the height of his power, it is estimated that Mobutu Sese Seko had about 15,000 Israeli trained bodyguards. The bodyguards constituted an elite force called the Special Presidential Division and were in charge of protecting Mobutu at all times.
