UGANDA: LT. GEN. BAZILO OLARA OKELLO MEMORIAL SERVICE HELD: FAMILY DEMANDS COMPENSATION

Portrait of the Late Lt. Gen. Bazilio Olara Okello (File photo).
A memorial service to honour the Late Lt. Gen. Bazilio Olara Okello, took place at his ancestral home at Madi Opei, Lamwo District, Feb. 15, 2025. The General was a prominent liberation war leader during the 1979 ouster of Dictator President Idi Dada Amin’s military government in 1979 and was also a war leader during the overthrow of Milton Obote II government in 1985.
LAMWO DISTRICT- FEB. 15, 2025
By Livingstone Okumu Langol
Dr. Kenneth Omona, state Minister for Northern Uganda promised to compensate the family of the late Ugandan icon, guerilla liberator, Lt. Gen. Bazilio Olara Okello for property looted by the National Resistance Army (NRA) led by a notorious Lt. Col. Reuben Ikondere in 1986.
“I would like to warn military forces who misuse their guns, turning them on innocent citizens as happened to the family of late Lt. Gen. Bazilio Olara Okello in 1986. “The then NRA, now Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) looted livestock, destroyed residential houses and vandalized the entire household in Madi Opei sub-county,” Omona said.
A son of the late Gen. Olara Okello, Orach Olara had informed the minister about the loss, destruction and loot of his late father’s property, including cattle in 1986, adding that President Museveni had promised them compensation.
Orach Olara, who introduced his brothers, says one of his brothers was in Museveni’s NRA forces but died with no trace as yet where he was buried.
“I want to ask the Minister of State for Northern Uganda who is standing on behalf of President Museveni that we want a maize miller for this area, government scholarships for Madi Opei, a new residential house for our family and a secondary school in Lukung to remember the late Gen. Bazilo Olara Okello,” Orach Olara demanded.
Dr. Omona said he would follow up the matter to the dot.
Meanwhile during the run-up to the memorial service, Dr. Saverio Pido a head of the deceased General’s family informed that the function would mark 10 years since the General’s remains were brought from Khartoum, Sudan for reburial in Madi Opei.
Dr. Pido informed that Lt. Gen. Bazilo Olara Okello held the presidency for two days in 1985 following the ouster of Dr. Apollo Milton Obote II government.
“My father Lt. Bazilo Olara Okello was loving person, who worked for peace and put his life in danger for people, he was a daring person, loved his relatives, and friends. “He went to fight Uganda Dictator Idi Amin when Uganda People’s Congress government was toppled in 1971. He went into exile and later he led the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) that toppled President Amin,” Dr. Pido said.
“We know that Lt. Gen. Okello was an astute army commander, a son of Rwot Munomoi of Madi-Opei. “He was born in 1926, and died in 1990 from Khartoum, Sudan, when he was 64 years old,” hDr. Pido added.
Lt. Bazilo Okello joined the King’s African Rifle Army (KAR) in 1947, in Kenya to fight Mau Mau rebellion. Later, when Uganda gain independence in 1962, he was called back to join Uganda Army. In 1971 when Uganda Army Commander Major Gen. Idi Amin Dada toppled Obote I government, he fled to Tanzania, and returned back in 1979 leading the liberators.
In 1985, he led rebellion against his UPC government of President Apollo Milton Obote, with an armful of soldiers from Labwor Dwong and Gulu Brigade, marching from up North to down South Kampala City.
Bosco Odoch Olak, Presidential Envoy to the Greater North introduced Ms Stella Lanam Kijange as a daughter of the late Lt. Gen. Bazilio Olara Okello before Northern Uganda Media Club (NUMEC). He informed that he earlier on organized a meeting with President Museveni alongside Ms Stella Lanam Kijange and the President promised to compensate the family for their losses and facilitate the return of the family members who were still abroad home.
Bosco Odoch Olak further informed that President Museveni promised that the late Bazilio Olara’s family would be compensated for their land encroached on by the community of Madi-Opei and also compensate for their lost cattle.
“President Museveni organized the return of Lt. Gen. Bazilio Okello Olara’s widow Mrs. Paula Olara Okello and donated to her a pick-up truck and rented for her a house. “He promised to build a new residential house in Madi-Opei where the family would settle, and rehabilitate the house occupied by the late National Resistance Army (NRA) commander, Lt. Col. Reuben Ikondere,” Odoch Olak informed.
Stella Lanam Kijange said, “I am happy today we have called for a media briefing to organize the memorial ceremony, 10 years after the remains of our father was brought back to Uganda.”
Samuel Olara, the son of the late Lt. Bazilio Olara Okello while addressing the press says, the family of his late father asked President Museveni to employ one of their sisters in the diplomatic mission, since she is qualified for the mission.
“We expect President Museveni to facilitate members of our family who have lived in self-imposed exile back home, and also we expect him to accord us the benefits of the former Ugandan Army commander. We have written a letter to President Museveni detailing what my father lost, and we expect the government to fulfil all our demands.” Samual Olara said.
Lamwo Resident District Commissioner, Mr. William Komakech appealed to the Acholi diaspora to return home to develop their motherland. “I call all sons and daughters of Acholi living in diaspora to return back from political asylum.” Komakech urged.
Otim Womogi, one of Acholi living in diaspora, in London welcomed Uganda government goodwill towards the family and the Acholi diaspora community but without elaborating expressed worry that the situation that forced Acholi to seek political asylum still remains the same. He noted that those who do return tend to pass on fast. “Is the alienation plan over?” he asked.