Members of Parliament on Tuesday, May 9th, 2023, paid tribute to the late Minister of State for Labour, Employment, and Industrial Relations, Col (Rtd) Charles Okello Engola Macodwogo, who was recently assassinated by his bodyguard.
While presiding over a special sitting in parliament, the Speaker of Parliament, Annet Anita Among, described the fallen minister as a patriot who served his country to the fullest.
Speaker Among expressed displeasure with those who have been celebrating his death, especially on social media, calling such acts uncultured and inhumane.
“I want to express my displeasure with the unfortunate practice where people celebrate the misfortune of those they don’t agree with. It is inhuman, uncultured, and very immoral to celebrate the death of anyone because you hold different or divergent views,” said Among.
In her tribute, the cabinet minister for labor, gender, and social development, Betty Amongi, revealed that prior to his death, Hon. Engola had written to the ministry’s top management to preserve the month of June this year for his planned wedding but was unfortunate not to live long enough to see that day.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja moved a motion on the floor of Parliament for the house to pay tribute to the fallen minister and convey the deepest condolences to the President of the Republic of Uganda, Ugandans at large, family members, and friends.
She applauded Col. Engola’s efforts to pacify the wars in Northern Uganda, where he led the 501 brigade in Gulu before his retirement in 2005.
His calm but brave actions in Northern Uganda earned him the nickname “Macodwogo,” translating as “Fire has returned,” after the LRA rebels had put a ban in the region prohibiting them from ‘lighting any fire’ or face death, which Engola and his team pacified.
Mathias Mpuuga, the Leader of Opposition (LOP), seconded the motion, saying the late Engola was an independent-minded leader who supported the right cause.
Lt. Gen. James Mugira, the UPDF representative in parliament, saluted Col. (Rtd.) Engola’s efforts and invaluable contribution to ending the LRA mayhem in Northern Uganda and for contributing to the bringing of peace, security, and stability in the region.
Gen. Mugira went ahead to clarify that the assassination of Minister Engola should not be reduced to the issue of a low salary.
“This is indiscipline, period! I want to state that the UPDF has never been a machine force; our service to our motherland has always been out of patriotism, ideological convictions, and sacrifice all throughout,” said Lt Gen James Mugira. “
The fallen MP for Oyam North was shot and killed by his bodyguard, Pte. Wilson Sabiiti, at his residence in Kyanja. The killer fired several shots at close range before fleeing the scene up to the trading center, where he entered a salon and shot himself dead.
