Tito Okello

Background

Tito Okello was born into an ethnic Acholi family in circa 1914 in Namukora, Kitgum District.

He joined the King's African Rifles in 1940 and served in the East African Campaign of World War II. As a career military officer, he had a variety of assignments.

As a follower of President Milton Obote, Okello went into exile following the 1971 coup d'état that resulted in Idi Amin becoming Uganda's new ruler. In 1972, rebels invaded Uganda to restore Obote. Okello was one of the leaders of an insurgent group which targeted Masaka. The invasion was defeated by loyalist Uganda Army troops.

Okello took part in the Uganda–Tanzania War. He was one of the commanders in the coalition between the Tanzania People's Defence Force and the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) that removed Amin from power in 1979. In 1980, Obote was restored to presidency. Okello was selected to be the Commander of the UNLA from 1980 to 1985.

Coup d'état

Main article: 1985 Ugandan coup d'état

In July 1985, together with Bazilio Olara-Okello, Tito Lutwa Okello staged the coup d'état that toppled President Obote. Okello ruled as president for six months until he had to transfer power to the National Resistance Army (NRA) operating under the leadership of the current president, Yoweri Museveni. He went into exile in Kenya after his tenure was forcefully terminated by Museveni.

Family

Tito Okello's son Henry Oryem Okello is the current State Minister for Foreign Affairs responsible for International Affairs. In 2002, Tito Okello's younger brother, Erisanweri Opira, was abducted from his home in Kitgum District by the rebel group, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). His abduction was considered unusual as the LRA usually kidnapped teenagers and young people to use as prospective soldiers or sex slaves. Opira was in his late seventies when he was abducted.

Final years

Okello remained in exile until 1993, when he was granted amnesty by President Museveni and returned to Kampala. He died three years later, of an undisclosed illness, on 3 June 1996. He was almost 82 years old at the time of his death. He was buried at his ancestral home in Kitgum District.{{cite web| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/10/world/gen-tito-okello-ex-ugandan-leader-82.html|title=General Tito Okello, Ex-Ugandan Leader, 82|date=10 June 1996|access-date=16 February 2015 |newspaper=New York Times |agency=Associated Press }}

Legacy and honours

In January 2010, Okello was posthumously awarded the Kagera National Medal of Honour for fighting against the Idi Amin dictatorship in the 1970s.

References

References

1. "President Tito Okello Lutwa (General)". Uganda State House.
2. "President Tito Okello Lutwa (General)".
3. Titus Kakembo, and Joel Ogwang. (25 January 2012). "Tito Okello: The President Who Was Kept On His Toes". [[New Vision]] (Kampala).
4. (14 September 2019). "Obote, Museveni blame each other for failed 1972 invasion of Uganda".
5. Ross, Will. (24 July 2002). "Uganda Rebels Grab Ex-President's Brother". [[BBC.
6. Milton Olupot, and Daniel Edyegu. (26 January 2010). "Museveni, Janet, Moi Get National Medals". [[New Vision]] (Kampala).