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Charles Okello Macodwogo Engola (12 October 1958 – 2 May 2023), commonly known as Charles Okello-Engola, was a Ugandan politician and Colonel in the Uganda People's Defence Force. He was the State Minister for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations in the Ugandan Cabinet.

Engola was born to Chief (Jago) Nasan Engola and Ketula Engola of Awangi, in Iceme, Oyam district. He was the grandson of Rwot Olong Adilo, and great-grandson of Rwot Olwa Abelli of Iceme.

Engola was appointed to the position of Minister of State for Defence on 6 June 2016, replacing General Jeje Odongo, who was appointed Cabinet Minister of Internal Affairs. He served as the Member of Parliament representing Oyam North County in the 10th Parliament (2016–2021).

On 2 May 2023, Engola was shot and killed by his personal bodyguard, who in turn shot himself dead.

Background and education

Engola was born on 12 October 1958 in present-day Oyam District. His parents were Nathan Engola and Ketula Engola. His father was a well known and respected chief in Lango. He attended local primary school in Iceme. According to his profile at the website of Uganda's parliament, he obtained his High School Certificate from Soroti Secondary School, in the city of Soroti, in the Eastern Region of Uganda. His first degree, a Bachelor of Development Studies, was awarded by Kampala International University (KIU), in 2010. His second degree, a Master of Public Administration and Management was also obtained from KIU, in 2013.

Career

While in the military, Engola was the commander of UPDF 501 Brigade, headquartered at Opit, in Gulu District. The brigade played a role in fighting the Lord's Resistance Army. He was promoted to the rank of colonel and retired from the military in 2007.

During the 2006 national election cycle, Engola successfully contested the Local Council 5 (LCV), Oyam District Council Chairmanship, on the ruling NRM political party ticket. He won in a landslide, winning 93 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 2011 and served as the LCV Chair for Oyam District for a continuous 10 years, from 2006. In 2016 he won the Oyam North parliamentary seat and was the incumbent member of parliament until he was killed.

On 6 June 2016, Engola was named to the cabinet as State Minister of Defence. In the cabinet reshuffle of 14 December 2019, Engola retained his portfolio.

At the time of his death, he was serving as the State Minister for Labour, Employment and Industrial relations and he led the Republic of Uganda government officials on 1 May 2023 in commemoration of the International Labour Day in Mayuge District in Eastern Uganda.

Death

Engola was shot and killed at his home on 2 May 2023. He was 64. A soldier who was guarding him shot Engola and then shot himself dead. The soldier who shot Engola was identified as Private Wilson Sabiiti, but although the local press reported that the incident arose from an apparent dispute over the guard's wages (Sabiiti said that he had not been paid some USh4,000,000, a bit more than US$1000, that was owed him), Gender and Labour minister Betty Amongi, who rushed to the scene soon after the shooting, said that Pte. Sabiiti had in fact been a new bodyguard and had only been on the job for a month. Engola's aide-de-camp Lieutenant Ronald Otim also sustained injuries in the shooting and was rushed to hospital. Two days later, he was said to be out of danger "and getting stable" after doctors at Mulago National Referral Hospital had stopped the bleeding.

See also

• Cabinet of Uganda
• Parliament of Uganda

References

1. Atuhaire, Patience (2 May 2023). "Soldier shoots dead politician he was guarding". BBC News. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
2. Uganda State House (6 June 2016). "Museveni's new cabinet list At 6 June 2016" (PDF). Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
3. ^ Parliament of Uganda (2016). "Parliament of Uganda Members of the 10th Parliament: Charles Okello Macodwogo Engola". kampala: Parliament of Uganda. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
4. "Ugandan minister shot and killed by bodyguard: reports". CTV News. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
5. "Soldier kills the politician he was protecting". Celebrity Telegraph. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
6. "Colonel Charles Okello Engola: Police give update on di soja wey shoot and kill Minister". BBC News Pidgin (in Pidgin). 2 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
7. ^ Bill Oketch (24 July 2014). "Oyam chairperson demands recognition for ending LRA war". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
8. New Vision (6 June 2016). "Cabinet: Kamya, Nadduli, Tumukunde In: President Yoweri Museveni Has Released The New Cabinet List". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
9. Javira Ssebwami (14 December 2019). "Cabinet Reshuffle: Museveni drops Muloni, Nadduli, PPS Kamukama". Kampala: Post Media Limited. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
10. "Minister Engola shot dead". NTV Uganda. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
11. "Soldier shoots dead politician he was guarding". BBC News. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
12. "Ugandan minister shot and killed by bodyguard: reports". CTVNews. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
13. "Ugandan cabinet minister shot and killed by his bodyguard". The Eastafrican. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
14. "Slain minister Engola's aide-de-camp out of danger - Mulago". New Vision. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.

• 1958 births
• 2023 deaths
• Langi people
• Ugandan military personnel
• People from Oyam District
• People from Northern Region, Uganda
• Government ministers of Uganda
• Members of the Parliament of Uganda
• Kampala International University alumni
• National Resistance Movement politicians
• 21st-century Ugandan politicians
• Deaths by firearm in Uganda
• Murder–suicides in Africa