Zanzibar revolutionary Okello's family gets Museveni response
Museveni's intervention followed a petition raised by the family that since Okello's abduction and subsequent brutal killing by Amin`s soldiers, the family had been in adverse poverty.
President Yoweri Museveni has directed the State House comptroller to secure land and start-up income-generating projects for the family of the Late John Gideon Okello. (Photo by Patrick Okino)
NewVision Reporter
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President Yoweri Museveni has directed the State House comptroller to secure land and start-up income-generating projects for the family of the Late John Gideon Okello, a former Zanzibar revolutionary icon. Okello's ancestral home is at Aloi Sub County in Alebtong district.
Museveni's intervention followed a petition raised by the family that since Okello's abduction and subsequent brutal killing by Amin`s soldiers, the family had been in adverse poverty, lacking decent accommodation, medical care and support from the Government, among others.
The family asked the Government to construct three houses for the widows, donate a tractor for farming, a truck to ease transportation of farm produce, sponsor grandchildren and recover Okello's property in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Akao, Okello`s widow at her home in Okut, Alebtong recently. (Photo by Patrick Okino)
About Okello
Okello gained fame and promoted himself to the title of Field Marshall when he led the Zanzibar revolution in 1964.
According to the book titled Resolution in Zanzibar, he left for the country in 1963, joined the Painters Union and contacted the leaders of the Afro-Shirazi Youth League to start mobilising for a revolution.
“The highly religious Okello was convinced he had been given orders in his dreams by God to break the powerful position of the Arabs and to find a revolutionary state in Zanzibar and Pemba,” the book reads.
In the directive, President Museveni asked the comptroller to liaise with the family to procure five acres, build a three-roomed house and set up a small farm for generating income.
“I direct our State House Comptroller to work with you (family) to get land of five acres in Lango if you do not have any, build a three-roomed house and help you set up a small farm,” he said in a letter on June 14, 2023.
Okello had two wives, Erine Akao and Atim Lily with 40 children and grandchildren.
The family has picked six members that include Howard Onyok, Denis Opio Elia, Gerald Ogwal, Akello Lydia, Kia Patricia and Moses Onyok to follow up the development.
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