Parliament hails Minister Okello Engola for fighting LRA

By Denish Ongora (denish.ongora@vol.co.ug)

Kampala

Members of parliament have hailed the then, Minister of state for labor, employment and industrial relations, Charles Okello Engola Macodwogo for his contribution in the fight against the Lord’s Resistance Army –LRA rebels in northern Uganda.

Prime minister of Uganda, Robinnah Nabanja moved a motion to pay tribute to minister Okello Engola and hailed him for his effort in restoring peace in northern Uganda.

The leader of opposition in parliament Mathias Mpuuga said Okello Engola was a fearless soldier who put his life on the line to restore peace in northern Uganda.

However, Mpuuga blamed the UPDF for deploying Wilson Sabiti who shot the minister dead to guard Okello Engola much as he had earlier exhibited signs of indiscipline.

He asked government to take issues of mental health more seriously in Uganda, adding that the act of deploying soldiers on foreign mission without giving them leave and counselling could contribute to similar incidences like it occurred to minister Engola.

Speaker of Parliament Annet Anita Among cautioned MPs against issuing provocative statements.

Minister of gender Betty Amongi Akena said Minister Charles Okello Engola during his term of office had been fighting for better welfare of workers and was also against the act of sending Ugandan girls to work as housemaids in Gulf nations.

UPDF representative in Parliament Lt. Gen. James Mugira warned the public against celebrating the murder of Minister Okello Engola, adding that Sabiti had gunned down Engola due to indiscipline as opposed to reports that he had not been paid his salaries as being claimed.

He said Okello Engola fought many battles including in south Sudan, Uganda and DR Congo.

Minister of justice and constitutional affairs Norbert Mao warned against promotion of tribal sentiments especially after the death of key government officials.