Look North
Friday, May 9, 2025
  • Home
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Farming
    • Celebrities
  • Profiles
  • Talk Back
    • Viewpoints
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Health & Fitness
  • Our Heritage
  • Business
Subscribe
Look North
  • Home
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Farming
    • Celebrities
  • Profiles
  • Talk Back
    • Viewpoints
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Health & Fitness
  • Our Heritage
  • Business
No Result
View All Result
Look North
No Result
View All Result
Home News Local

Lango mobs Lira airfield to mourn Col Engola

Postmortem report says the State minister for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations was shot 28 times. His Personal Assistant, Lt Ronald Otim, who is still hospitalized, was shot seven times.

byOur Reporter - DIGITGAL HUB
May 15, 2023
in Local
0
Lango mobs Lira airfield to mourn Col Engola

As soon as the UPDF chopper carrying Engola's body touched the ground, there was already massive security breach as thousands of mourners pour in on Lira airfield. COURTESY PHOTO.

180
SHARES
2.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

LIRA. Business came to a standstill in Lango principal trade and political capital as the military chopper carrying the body of Col Charles Okello Engola touched down on Thursday morning. 

Lira City was thrown into a frenzy as the military chopper rumbled and circled over before landing at the airfield on the city’s northern outskirts. 

Hundreds of mourners quickly closed shops and abandoned the city markets as they rushed to the aerodrome to see the body of Col (rtd) Engola, which lain motionless in a coffin draped in Uganda’s national colours.

Pte Wilson Sabiti shot dead Col Engola, the Oyam North MP, before turning the gun on himself on May 2, 2023. Pte Sabiti was Col Engola’s bodyguard. 

Postmortem report says Engola was shot 28 times while his personal assistant, Lt Ronald Otim, who is still hospitalised, was shot seven times. No conclusive motive has been established for the shooting.

As soon as the plane touched down at 10.30am, thousands of mourners poured onto the airstrip, breaking through the heavy and tight security cordon.

Dozens of boda boda motorcycle taxi riders stood on their motorcycles, while hundreds more of other mourners climbed anthills and trees to have a clearer view the UPDF chopper.

“Even if the killer is dead, God must punish him for taking the life of our brother,” a woman wailed as she ran towards heavily armed soldiers who stood guard at the airfield.

A thick and long queue of people snaked its way along the one-mile distance from the heart of Lira City to the airfield, hoping to have a glimpse of the casket in case it was to be transported by vehicle. But their hopes were dashed as the body of Col Engola was again lifted off by the UPDF chopper to Oyam Town where the Lango District Councils had gathered to pay tribute and last respects to Col Engola.

Col Engola becomes the second public figure in Lango to be accorded such love after former President Dr Apollo Milton Obote, who attracted thousands of people to escort his casket from Lira City to Akokoro, his home village in Apac District.

The remains of Col Engola were laid to rest on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at his ancestral home at Awangi Village, Iceme Sub-county in Oyam District.

The Rev Can Jacky Milton Otto Olima, the Archdeacon of Lira Urban West Archdeaconry, assured the mourners that Col Engola’s soul is already resting in Heaven.

Col Engola leaves behind five children and 19 grandchildren.

About Col Engola

Born October 12, 1958, to Jago (chief) Nasan Engola and Ketula Engola of Awangi Village, Iceme Sub-county, Oyam District.

 Appointed minister of state for Defense on June 6, 2016, replacing Gen Jeje Odongo, who was named Minister of Internal Affairs.

 At the time of his death, Col Engola was MP for Oyam North County.

 He succumbed to gunshot injuries after being shot by his bodyguard on May 2, 2023.

Education

 He attended primary school in Iceme Sub-county, Lango, and Soroti Secondary School, eastern Uganda. He attained a Bachelor of Development Studies in 2010 and Master of Public Administration and Management in 2013 from Kampala International University.

Career

 Engola also served as commander of UPDF 501 Brigade, headquartered at Opit in present-day Omoro District and spearheaded the fight against the LRA. He was promoted to Colonel and retired from the military in 2007. 

Engola contested for the LC5 top seat in Oyam District and won and was re-elected in 2011, serving out 10 unbroken years on the ruling NRM political party ticket. 

 He won the Oyam North MP seat in 2021 and served until his death on May 2, 2023.

Tags: Col EngolaLangoLira airfieldmourn
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

I take strong exception to Gen Otema’s wild talk that Acholi who oppose Balaalo are backward

December 1, 2023
President Museveni arrives at Okidi Parish in Atiak Sub-county, Amuru District, on November 3, 2023, to discuss with leaders from Acholi, the issue of Balaalo nomadic pastoralists. COURTESY PHOTO.

Odonga-Otto pens letter to Museveni, warns on fencing land, dismisses claims on Bweyale

November 21, 2023
Former Speaker of Parliament, Jacob L’Okori Oulanyah (RIP)

Death of Oulanyah exposes Acholi as proud and loud without leadership

July 1, 2022
The Odinga and how to fight,  give in, and fight another day

The Odinga and how to fight,  give in, and fight another day

September 5, 2022
Cecilia Ogwal, the Iron Lady who wrestled men, defied Museveni and saved UPC in Lango

Fare-thee-well Cecilia Ogwal, the mother  of political party coalition in Uganda

8
Karimojongs threaten to attack Chinese camps over poisoned goats

Karimojongs threaten to attack Chinese camps over poisoned goats

0
Uganda yashize ahabona amasanamu yambere yerekana abasirikare bayo bagiye muri Kongo guhiga ADF (IMAGE: Courtesy )

DRC security accuses ADF rebels of killing 20 residents in Kilula village attack

0
Privates Sam Omeno and Nathan Esia have been sentenced to 33 years in jail. (IMAGE: URN )

SFC Soldier, peasant sentenced to 33 years in prison for robbing Shs750,000

0
Cecilia Ogwal, the Iron Lady who wrestled men, defied Museveni and saved UPC in Lango

Fare-thee-well Cecilia Ogwal, the mother  of political party coalition in Uganda

February 12, 2024
Imat Cecilia Ogwal, the Iron Lady with distinct signature voice; powerful and authoritative at once. COURTESY PHOTO./ CECILIA OGWAL TRIBUTE PAGE.

Cecilia Ogwal, the Iron Lady who wrestled men,  defied Museveni and saved UPC in Lango

February 12, 2024
President Museveni arrives in Amuru District in October 2023 to discuss the issue of Balaalo or nomadic pastoralists who have invaded Acholi, Lango and West Nile sub-regions. COURTESY PHOTO.

Balalo issue in Obongi and wider Northern Uganda is settler colonialism

January 13, 2024
A team of petitioners and interested parties during a hearing session of Constitutional Court case on which the court ruled on February 20 that the lands and proprietary interests be held in perpetuity under customary tenure guaranteed under Artic1e 237(1), (3)(a) of the Constitution of Uganda, 1995. COURTESY PHOTO.

Open letter to President Museveni on Balaloo question in Acholi 

January 13, 2024
  • Advertisement
Call us: info@looknorth.co.ug

© 2025.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Farming
    • Celebrities
  • Profiles
  • Talk Back
    • Viewpoints
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Health & Fitness

© 2025.