Instead, Gowon focused on building a new life in Zaire, taking up residency in Kisangani. By befriending a Zairean customs officer, he had transported some trucks out of Uganda and would subsequently rent them out. He was also involved in smuggling, and eventually made enough money to buy a house in Bunia where he was joined by two of his wives. At the same time, Uganda descended into civil war which resulted in Yoweri Museveni's rise to presidency in 1986. Museveni's government focused on national reconstruction, and offered reconciliation to Amin's former followers. Gowon took up this offer in 1994. He returned to Uganda with 25 other ex-officers, hundreds of dependants, and over ten thousand civilian refugees. Museveni personally welcomed Gowon back to Uganda, and the two even laughingly reminisced about the 1972 invasion during which they had fought each other (Museveni had been part of Obote's rebel alliance at the time). Mbarara threw a "huge party" in Gowon's honor. The Ugandan government rented him a house in Ntinda, and granted him a stipend. Grateful for this treatment, Gowon subsequently supported Museveni, and made speeches in his favor during the 1996 Ugandan presidential election.