Museveni, who has been at the helm of the east African nation since 1986, even shook hands with Ali Fadhul, a man he claims to have nearly killed almost four decades ago.

"It is part of our healing process," presidential spokesman Tamale Mirundi told AFP. "The president knows that at one point in our history certain things happened, but he's not afraid to deal with such people from the past."

Fadhul was Amin's right-hand man in Museveni's home area. He was pardoned earlier this week and the two men met on Thursday when Fadhul turned up at a presidential rally outside the capital Kampala, Mirundi said.

"I am happy to meet Fadhul here. He should go slaughter a chicken and devour it," Museveni told the crowd after seeing his former foe, according to the government-controlled New Vision newspaper.

In many Ugandan families chickens are eaten exclusively on special occasions like Christmas and New Year.

Museveni and Fadhul clashed in 1972, when the young rebel leader launched a failed invasion through the Tanzanian border. Museveni claimed his fighters nearly shot Fadhul before they were forced to retreat.

"God still wanted him to live," Museveni said at the rally. "I said if God protected him, who am I to oppose his plans for Fadhul?"

Fadhul was arrested for murder shortly after Museveni took power in 1986.

Museveni has a proven track record of pardoning or offering amnesty to former fierce rivals. Last year he pardoned a notoriously brutal spy chief from the regime of former president Milton Obote.

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