A little over a year ago, on May 2, Ugandans woke up to the viral image of the lifeless body of Col (rtd) Charles Patrick Okello Engola sprawled across the pavement of his Kyanja abode.
The corpse lay near the rear left tyre of the official junior Labour minister’s vehicle. Also the Oyam County North lawmaker at the time, the man known to his close associates as Macodwogo, was shot dead by his bodyguard Private Wilson Sabiiti. Sabiiti later turned the gun on himself at a nearby salon.
The story was, unsurprisingly, front page news. Tucked into the inner pages was the news, nearly four months later, that Samuel Okello Engola Junior lost a keenly fought by-election to replace his father in Parliament. After Engola Junior polled 15,161 votes to Eunice Otuko Apio’s 15,718 votes, the former faded into oblivion.
Until two Thursdays ago, on May 2, the grim one-year anniversary of Macodwogo’s death.At the memorial service held at St Luke-Ntinda, a snapshot was offered of the youthful politician, whom the NRM party gave its flag during the Oyam County North by-election.
“The young man who wants to sell off the late Engola’s property and chase off the widow should be told of Macodwogo’s legacy,” Dr Chris Baryomunsi, the ICT and National Guidance minister, who stepped up to the St Luke Church lectern to represent President Museveni on May 2, disclosed.
Last July, after laying a wreath on Macodwogo’s grave, President Museveni used a couple of rallies to throw his weight behind Engola Junior’s candidature in the Oyam County North by-election.
But now, just under a year later, Minister Baryomunsi was unequivocal about the unstinting support for Joyce Ayikoru Okello, Macodwogo’s widow.
‘‘The government will fight with her and I’m going to communicate and follow up Joyce’s wish to meet the President to air out her grievances,” he revealed.
Macodwogo’s widow, keen to put a dark chapter behind her, thanked those who continue to rally behind her family. “
We are all clients of death but I thank the Labour and Defence ministries, Prof [Alex] Bashasha and other security agencies for standing with me since my husband departed,” she revealed, adding, “I’m a teacher working with Opportunity International Education Programme, but it gives me hope seeing my daughter working in Uganda Police and my son being enrolled in the UPDF.”
Looking elegant and composed, Ms Ayikoru was accompanied by all her children apart from Engola Junior.
In his speech read by Minister Baryomunsi, President Museveni recounted his first interaction with Okello Engola at Lubiri Barracks in 1986. Engola was holding an 18mm machine gun.
Mr Museveni expounded how Engola earned the Macodwogo moniker, which is loosely translated as “bringing back the fire” in Lango.
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