The President of Uganda and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Gen (Rtd) Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has today called upon the political class to back to what he termed as the “NRA line of sacrifice.”
Museveni made the remarks during the state funeral service in honour of the late Minister of State for Labor, Employment and Industrial Relations, Col (Rtd) Charles Okello Engola ‘Macodwogo’ at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala.
“I call upon the political class to go back to the NRA line of Sacrifice. Our ideology, strategy and work method was voluntarism, patriotism and sacrifice, not big salaries and other benefits,” said Museveni.
He explained that the NRA doctrine was the correct ideology that called for service above self apart from liberating the country.
He wondered where a developing country like Uganda would get the meagre resources to satisfy everyone at ago, noting that rewards would eventually be realised but in a segmented and gradual manner since the country is currently peaceful.
He said: “Go back to the NRA doctrine and don’t put pressure on government to increase allowances or pay. If you want money the hard way, you will become a mercenary,” he elaborated.
He urged mourners not to reduce the cause of death of the late Minister to low pay in the army, adding that only the final death report will direct authorities on the cause of action.
The President expressed disappointment with Politicians and Civil servants involved in corruption, warning them that very soon he will crack his whip.
The President also urged soldiers to exploit the services offered by Wazalendo, and the available health and education centers in the barracks to better their quality of life.
The President said he was saddened to learn that Col Engola died in the hands a guard assigned to him, Pte Sabiti Wilson.
“I apologize to the family of the late Engola, the people of Lango, Uganda and Africa,” said Museveni before adding that “this a very big embarrassment from the army that somebody deployed to guard a useful cadre ended up killing him.”
He revealed that the army had instituted a board of inquiry to establish the cause of the shooting.
To the deceased’s family, Museveni urged them to keep the legacy of their father.
The Chief Mourner and Bishop of Lango Diocese Rt. Reverend Alfred Olwa who represented the Arch Bishop of the Church of Uganda, Rt Reverend Dr. Steven Kazimba Mugalu, reminded mourners to work harder and stop waiting for free things, adding that knowledge is power.
“If knowledge is power, then lack of knowledge is dangerous,” he said.
He praised the deceased as a hardworking man in Lango who started fruit farming, among others.
He announced condolences of Shs 17 million from the Church of Uganda.
The decesead’s widow, Joyce Engola, asked mourners to glorify forgiveness while the son, Sam Engola Junior, eulogized his late father as a good father, a worrior and an enterprising parent.
The late Col (Rtd) Charles Okello ‘Macodwogo’ Engola was born on 12th October 1958 in Oyam, Oyam district.
He met his death after being shot by his bodyguard Pte Sabiti Wilson at his home in Kyanja, a Kampala suburb, on 2 May 2023.
The late was nicknamed ‘Mac’ alias fire and ‘odwogo’ alias back; to mean the fire is back ‘Macodwogo’ since during the LRA war in Northern Uganda people feared to ignite a fire in fear of being sighted by LRA rebels, who would vehemently attack them.
He was also the 501 Brigade Commander that trounced LRA rebels and thus brought fire back to residents in the Northern part of Uganda.
Today’s State Funeral service was also attended by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Hon Janet Kataha Museveni, Prime Minister Emeritus Ruhakana Rugunda, Third Deputy Prime Minister Rukia Nakadama, NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong, Minister of Gender, Labor and Social Development, Betty Amongi, Chief of Defence Forces Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, MPs, Permanent Secretaries, Security Chiefs, and religious leaders, among others.
