By Willy Chowoo
The family of the late Lt. Gen. Bazilio Olara Okello, a former Army Commander and two-day President of Uganda, has appealed to President Yoweri Museveni to honor promises made to the family.
Speaking ahead of a memorial prayer scheduled for February 15, 2025, Lanam Stella, one of Lt. Gen. Olara’s daughters, expressed gratitude to the President for the support the family has received since reburial arrangements were made in 2015. However, she urged the President to fulfill outstanding pledges.
“On behalf of our mother, who is now wheelchair-bound, we request the President to fulfill his pledges to the family. We also humbly ask him to join us during the memorial prayer,” Lanam said.
Promises Made by the President
President Museveni, during a 2024 meeting with the family led by their mother, promised to:
- Renovate or rebuild the family house in Madi Opei, Lamwo District.
- Compensate the family for land encroached upon by villagers.
- Rent a house for the widow in Kampala while the family home is being rebuilt or renovated.
The President directed the State House Comptroller to oversee these efforts, including renting a house in Kampala for one year and providing financial support for the widow’s upkeep. Additionally, the President promised to purchase a double-cabin four-wheel-drive vehicle to aid the widow’s transportation, particularly for hospital visits.
Further, he committed to helping one of Lt. Gen. Olara’s daughters secure a position in the Uganda Foreign Service, delegating this responsibility to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In a letter dated August 13, 2024, the President instructed Prime Minister Robinah Nabanja to follow up on these pledges.
Despite these promises, the family has yet to see them materialize.
Family’s Gratitude and Appeal
While expressing disappointment over the unfulfilled promises, the family remains grateful to President Museveni for allowing them to rebury their father in 2015. “We thank him for everything he has done for the family, including enabling us to bring our father’s remains home for a dignified reburial. We ask him not to abandon us and to join us during the memorial prayer for his comrade,” said Godfrey Mungu Olara, one of Lt. Gen. Olara’s sons.
Odoch Bosco Olak, the Northern Uganda Coordinator for NRM Mobilization who facilitated the family’s contact with the President, reassured them of his commitment to following up on the matter. “The family lost direct contact with the President after the 2015 reburial. While it is true the President made several promises, I urge the family to remain calm as I personally follow up on these issues,” Odoch said.
Lt. Gen. Olara’s Life and Legacy
Lt. Gen. Bazilio Olara Okello, a son of Rwot Langoya Rwonomoi, was born in 1928 in Poyamo Malec Cell, Madi Opei Town Council, Lamwo District. He grew up in a culturally rich Acholi community, deeply rooted in tradition and respect for leadership. His upbringing under a traditional chief instilled in him a strong sense of discipline and responsibility, traits that would define his military and political career.
Olara joined the Uganda Army in the early 1960s and rose steadily through the ranks, becoming one of the most prominent figures in Uganda’s military history. Known for his tactical acumen and charismatic leadership, he played a critical role in the liberation struggles and in shaping the trajectory of Uganda’s military during a period of great political upheaval.
In 1985, Lt. Gen. Olara became a pivotal figure in Uganda’s history when he spearheaded a military coup d’état that ousted President Milton Obote, accusing him of authoritarian rule and mismanagement of state affairs. On July 27, 1985, Olara briefly assumed the presidency as head of the Military Commission, serving alongside Gen. Tito Okello Lutwa, who later became the Chairman of the Military Council and de facto head of state. Lt. Gen. Olara’s presidency lasted only two days, from July 27 to July 29, 1985, as he handed over leadership to Lutwa in what appeared to be a shared vision for Uganda’s transition.
The 1985 coup marked a significant but tumultuous moment in Uganda’s history. It briefly halted the civil conflict between Obote’s government and the National Resistance Army (NRA), led by Yoweri Museveni. However, the military government led by Tito Okello Lutwa and Bazilio Olara Okello was short-lived. Six months later, in January 1986, Museveni’s NRA overthrew their government, forcing Olara and his allies into exile.
Lt. Gen. Olara fled to Sudan, where he lived in exile until his death on January 9, 1990, at Omdurman Hospital in Khartoum. His time in exile was marked by hardship, as he remained disconnected from his homeland and the political developments in Uganda. Despite his controversial role in Uganda’s history, many in his community regard him as a hero who stood up for his people and fought for change during a challenging period.
In 2015, after decades of separation from his homeland, Lt. Gen. Olara’s remains were repatriated from Sudan and reburied on his family’s ancestral land in Poyamo Malec Cell, Madi Opei Town Council. The reburial was a significant moment for the family and the Acholi community, symbolizing reconciliation and recognition of his contributions to Uganda’s history. It also allowed his family to honor his memory in accordance with Acholi traditions, which place great importance on ancestral burial grounds as a connection between the living and the departed.
Lt. Gen. Bazilio Olara Okello’s legacy remains a complex and multifaceted one. While his role in Uganda’s political history was controversial, he is remembered by his family and supporters as a man of courage, a skilled military leader, and a patriot who acted in what he believed to be the best interests of his country.
Memorial Prayer
The family has organized a memorial prayer to honor Lt. Gen. Olara’s life and contributions. “It is now 35 years since we lost our father and ten years since we reburied him. As a family, we feel it is important to remember him and reflect on his legacy,” said Mungu.
Lanam Stella reminisced about her father’s love for his children. “Our father loved us deeply. We still miss him, and this prayer is our way of keeping his memory alive,” she said.
Dr. Pido Saverio , a clan elder, described Lt. Gen. Olara as a brave and hardworking leader who helped many people during his military career. “He was a man of courage and kindness, and we pray for his eternal peace,” Dr. Pido said.
Komakech William, the Resident District Commissioner for Lamwo District, also praised the government for its policy of supporting Ugandans returning from exile. “The government deserves recognition for allowing exiles like Lt. Gen. Olara to be reintegrated and honored in their homeland,” he noted.
The family hopes the upcoming memorial will not only honor Lt. Gen. Olara’s memory but also serve as a reminder of the promises that remain unfulfilled.
