President Gen . Yoweri Museveni has said that the murder of Col (Rtd) Charles Okello Engola by his bodyguard, Pte Wilson Sabiiti, was a “big crime to patriotism in Uganda.”
“We would have hunted him (Pte Sabiiti) to exact justice on him. Unfortunately, he took his own life; hence, we did not have that opportunity. There is an ongoing investigation. I await the conclusion of that investigation before I comment on the security of public officials & the mistakes made and how we will rectify them,” Mr Museveni said in a statement posted on his official Twitter handle.
“Colonel (rtd) Charles Engola was a lion. I, first saw him in Lubiri barracks (before it was returned to the Kabaka), manning a 14.5mm anti-air-craft gun in 1986. Later, he became an infantry Commander in the Minakulu area. That is when he got his “Machodwogo” Kikubyo (praise name).
Mac in our Luo language means fire. Dwogo, means, “Coming back” (Okudda, Okugaruka). The peasants who gave him that Praise name, meant that when he took command of the Army in the area, people were able to make fires again in order to cook, warm themselves (okwoota omuriro),” the president added.
Gen. Museveni said before Engola’s defeating the Joseph Kony-led rebels in the area, people were in hiding, fearing to make fire so that the rebels do not see the fire and come for them.
“On account of that popularity, he was elected LC-5 Chairman and, eventually, Member of Parliament. I was very happy to appoint him a Minister of State,” Mr Museveni said.
President Yoweri Museveni has authorised government to accord the late Engola an official state funeral .
Gen. Museveni has also ordered for the immediate mental , psychological and background checks on all armed officers who are deployed to provide body guard security for Very Important People (VIPS) including ministers .
Multiple sources have told ugandaupdatenews.com that Gen. Museveni who is also the Commander in Chief (CiC) of the armed forces , made the orders while addressing a cabinet meeting this week .
The President was of the view that for a guard to shoot and kill the people they are supposed to protect against any harm must be either mentally derailed or stressed due to various factors .
Sources said that Museveni noted that the violent act by a UPDF private Wilson Sabiiti who committed suicide after shooting to death war veteran and State Minister for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, Col (rtd) Charles Patrick Okello Engola- was “ terrorism and indiscipline” which is not tolerated in the UPDF.
The president has also directed that on top of all officers who provide security VIPs to be thoroughly examined ,they also undertake periodic refresher courses and training..
The life of Ronald Otim, the aide to the former State Minister for Labour, the late Charles Okello Engola, is out of danger, according to Dr Rosemary Byanyima, the Executive Director (ED) of Mulago National Referral Hospital.
Dr. Byanyima told the media that Lt Ronald Otim underwent an operation and he is recovering from his wounds .
Engola is expected to be buried on May 13, 2023 at his ancestral home in Oyam District.
