DEVELOPING STORY 

Continuing coverage after the Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations and Oyam North MP, Charles Okello Engola, was Tuesday shot dead at his home in Kyanja, Nakawa Division in Kampala.

(Live updating & editing by Joseph Kizza)
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5:43 pm |  Engola killing 'big crime to patriotism' — Museveni

President Yoweri Museveni has paid tribute to the late minister Charles Okello Engola.

In a tweeted statement, the President briefly talks of how Engola endeared himself to the people of northern Uganda during the devastating LRA insurgency.

He adds that is waiting for the conclusion of the ongoing investigation into the killing of the minister "before I comment on the security of public officials and the mistakes made and how we will rectify them".

Here is the President's tweeted message:

"Fellow Ugandans,

Condolences on the death of Colonel (rtd) Charles Engola.

Colonel (rtd) Charles Engola was a lion. I first saw him in Lubiri barracks (before it was returned to the Kabaka), manning a 14.5mm anti-aircraft gun in 1986.

Later, he became an infantry commander in the Minakulu area. That is when he got his “Machodwogo” Kikubyo (praise name). Mac in our Luo language means fire. Dwogo, means, “Coming back” (Okudda, Okugaruka). 

The peasants who gave him that praise name meant that when he took command of the army in the area, people were able to make fires again in order to cook, warm themselves (okwoota omuriro). Before Okello defeating the Kony terrorists in the area, people were in hiding, fearing to make fire so that the terrorists do not see the fire and come for them.

On account of that popularity, he was elected LC5 chairman and, eventually, Member of Parliament. I was very happy to appoint him a Minister of State.

His killing by this bodyguard was a big crime to patriotism in Uganda. We would have hunted him to exact justice on him. Unfortunately, he took his own life; hence, we did not have that opportunity.

There is an ongoing investigation. I await the conclusion of that investigation before I comment on the security of public officials and the mistakes made and how we will rectify them.

Yoweri K. Museveni Gen(rtd)
P R E S I D E N T (Ssabalwanyi) 
 3rd May, 2023
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5:19 pm |  Engola, a lover of music

Another interesting story about the late minister and legislator is sourced and penned by New Vision's Joseph Ekol, who is based in Lira.

He writes that Engola had a fun side and that the minister's death has hit the Lango music fraternity:

On many occasions while on duty, it was rare to see him laugh or even smile, but if you found him in his free time, it was hard to believe that the person you had seen was Col (Rtd) Charles Okello Engola.

Just like other ordinary Ugandans, the now late labour state minister was a music fan and an entertainment events promoter.

When he was in Lango, Engola would drive from his home in Oyam to Lira city, have fun and travel back to Oyam to spend a night at home because of the love he had for his family.

New Vision has established that in Lira city, his favourite place of leisure was ST. Lira Hotel, a famous entertainment and social facility owned by Engola's brother, Sam Engola.

On the minds of many Lira revellers remains the first-ever glittering fireworks fired by Engola at that hotel as he ushered people into the New Year 2023.

Sometimes, when he didn’t want to move out, Engola would stage a music concert at his home in Iceme and host performances by several musicians.

New Vision has also learnt that Engola was constructing two disco halls, one in Iceme Town Council and another at Oyam Town Council, where his electorate would immerse in entertainment. 

He was also repoetedly planning to establish a music band and a music recording studio in Oyam for training upcoming musicians.

The chairman of Northern Uganda Musicians, Emmy Ongom aka King Bloodmoon, said the minister was a good friend to musicians, a reliable music fan, a promoter and father to musicians in Lango and northern Uganda at large.

“When he gave you an assignment to compose a song for him, he would pay you very well, up to zero balance, without any resistance. To us musicians, dealing with him had been easier than any other politicians in Lango," said Ongom.

"Sometimes, he would invite us to his home and we dine together."

During the COVID-19 lockdown, Ongom said Lira Municipality authorities were hesitant to register them, but that when Engola intervened, all musicians were enrolled to benefit from the sh100,000 Government COVID fund.

Alex Obwor aka Okeng BornTown, a popular musician in northern region, said Engola was very social and good at identifying and promoting musical talent.

"His death has left a deep hole in the music and entertainment fraternity."
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4:00 pm |  'Engola was a fierce fighter'

Interesting stories are emerging about the life of late minister Charles Okello Engola. Here is one of them, written by New Vision's Jesse Johnson James:

Local leaders in Acholi and Lango sub-regions have described the late Charles Okello Engola Macodwogo as a fierce fighter, citing his role in defeating the Joseph Kony-led Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels in northern Uganda.

Engola, 64, joined the army in 1980 as a private from Mubende district, according to his elder brother Lister Aremo Engola, 70.

“After the training, he [Engola] was posted to Kitgum, where he earned his first rank of lance corporal,” said Aremo.

According to him, Charles Engola rose through the ranks because of his courage and fearlessness when on the battlefield.

Meanwhile, Benson Dila, the Oyam district chairperson, who boasts of knowing Engola right from the time he was still an active soldier, told New Vision that the minister earned his nickname “Macodwogo” (fire is back) from Acholi sub-region when he fought and defeated the LRA rebels.

“Women in the rural areas in Acholi sub-region could not cook during day time back then because the rebels would bombard their homes following the smoke from the firewood,” he said.

According to Dila, the late Engola waged war against those rebels and defeated them, prompting the women to start lighting fire for cooking during daytime hence, baptising Engolas as "Macodwogo".
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3:08 pm |  Iteso paramount chief mourns Engola

The Iteso paramount chief, Paul Sande Emolot, has mourned the passing of Col (Rtd) Charles Okello Engola, reports New Vision's Christine Itado.

“It is a very sad moment. As Iteso, we convey our condolences to the family and the people of Oyam [North] he represented in Parliament,” said Emolot.

“He made a lot of contribution to this country as he was in the army and brought peace."
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1:25 pm |  Mourners at Engola's home

The mood at the home of the late Rtd Col Charles Okello Engola in Kyanja, Nakawa Division is one of silent reflection and mourning for a man whose life was cut short by a trigger of a gun on what should have been a routine morning motivated by the call of duty.

The morning of May 2, 2023 was far from ordinary.

It was the day the Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations and Oyam North MP breathed his last — under what was described as dramatic circumstances inside the compound of his home — after being shot dead by his bodyguard, who would go on to take his own life as well.

A day after that tragic incident, mourners are gathered at the late minister's home to offer emotional support to the bereaved family.

New Vision's Stuart Yiga is at the home and has captured the mood there:

The members of the press are stationed at the late minister's residence to cover the developments.

Meanwhile, the stretch leading to Engola's home off Kyanja Ring Road is being graded in anticipation of the beehive of activity and the to and fro human traffic.

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5:00 am |  In today's dailies 🗞️

As you would expect, today's newspapers are leading with only one story: The killing of minister Engola.

New Vision leads with his profile, describing the retired UPDF colonel as having been a "battle-hardened soldier".

The edition has offered space aplenty for this evolving story. It details minister Engola's life and times as well as his last moments.

The minister was shot dead a month before his nuptials, which he had started preparing for. That story is in there too.

New Vision also has tributes from Parliament and Lango, plus security experts weighing in on personal guards.

You can read the electronic version of the newspaper (e-paper) 👉🏽 HERE.


Meanwhile, New Vision's sister paper, Bukedde, also leads with the story of Engola.

The paper looks at the minister's bodyguards, his last moments alive as well as eyewitness accounts.

You can also read Bukedde's electronic version (e-paper) 👉🏽 HERE.

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4:35 am |  What we know so far

In case you are just joining us, you have a lot of ground to make up (scroll down the page for earlier updates). Good enough though, we are still at the stage where the Police are conducting their investigations into the tragic incident that cut short two lives: the minister's and that of his killer bodyguard.

This is what we know so far:

▪️ The deadly shooting incident happened at the residence of labour state minister Charles Okello Engola. Eyewitnesses said they heard a salvo of gunshots just after 9am Tuesday.

▪️ Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said the shooting was done by one of the minister's bodyguards, who is reported to have "fired several shots at close range and he fled from the scene up to the trading centre at Kyanja Ring Road, where he entered a saloon and also shot himself dead".

▪️ The killer bodyguard was named as Pte. Wilson Sabiiti and it emerged that he had only recently been assigned to protect the minister.

▪️ A statement released by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development said that Sabiiti "had been part of the UPDF-seconded security detail for the minister for only a month (since April).

▪️ In fact, Sabiiti was the man that protected the minister at his last public appearance, at the national celebration for the International Labour Day in Namutumba district on Monday, only hours before the deadly shooting.

▪️ When Enanga addressed a weekly joint security press briefing in Naguru on the same morning of the deadly incident, he said their investigation was "currently in the early stages of review" and that "we don't want to speculate into what could be the motivation of this murder".


▪️ Meanwhile, the minister's aide de camp (ADC), Lt. Ronald Otim, was caught up in the shooting, taking a bullet from the bodyguard and surviving with injuries. He was taken to Mulago Hospital for treatment. 

▪️ ICT and national guidance minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi said burial arrangements for the late minister "are going to be worked out and the programme shall be released once we have agreed upon it".

▪️ President Yoweri Museveni has not yet publicly commented on the incident, but he is expected to do so in due course. He presided over the Labour Day national celebrations in Namutumba district, where Engola (pictured below third from left) was last seen in public.

▪️ For now, through the Minister in Charge of the Presidency (Milly Babirye Babalanda), President Museveni directed that the late Engola be accorded an official funeral. "The full burial programme will be communicated later," tweeted Babalanda on Tuesday.

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 WEDNESDAY - MAY 3 

Hello everyone and welcome back to our continuing coverage of the death by shooting of Rtd. Col Charles Okello Engola by his bodyguard at his home in Kyanja on Tuesday.

He was the Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations as well as the representative of  Oyam North constituency in Parliament.

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8:09 pm |  Speaker Among condoles with family

The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, Tuesday evening visited the home of the late labour state minister Charles Okello Engola at his home in Kyanja to condole with the bereaved family.

She was in the company of government and NRM party officials.

"I joined the family of my brother Hon. Charles Engola whose life was brutally cut shot earlier today to extend my sympathies and pray with the family. May the Lord grant him eternal rest and give the family the grace to face this tough moment!" tweeted Among, along with the three pictures below.

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7:00 pm |  What he said 💬

On Monday, during the International Labour Day national celebrations in Namutumba district in Uganda's east, the late minister Charles Okello Engola talked about the effects of a poor work culture and ethics.

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5:55 pm |  Engola killed a month to wedding

The Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, Charles Okello Engola, was killed a month to his wedding, reports New Vision's Joseph Ekol.

Only last month, he announced that he would wed his fiancée, Joice Ayikoru, in June this year.

Engola made the revelation on March 11 while addressing mourners at the burial of Kuranimo Opota, the father of Lango Chiefdom Prime Minister, George Ojwang Opota, in Iceme sub-county, Oyam district.

The minister is pictured below seated with his fiancée (right) at that burial ceremony.

The wedding was planned to be hosted at St Nathan Anglican Church of Uganda Awangi in Iceme sub-county.

A close relative of the late revealed that Engola had begun to renoted the church in preparation for the wedding.

The church is about 200 metres from Engola's ancestral home.
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3:19 pm |  Apparent footage of killer guard

Footage circulating on social media appears to show the shooter in Tuesday morning's tragic incident firing in the air as he makes his way to the trading centre, apparently before taking his own life.

Police said they are actively investigating the murder by shooting of minister Charles Okello Engola in Kyanja.

( Warning:  Some viewers may find the details of this footage disturbing)


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2:45 pm |  A life of service

The late Col (Rtd) Charles Okello Engola served in the army, Parliament and Cabinet.

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2:30 pm |  When Engola met Amin's son in Somalia

In 2019, then-defence state minister Col Charles Okello Engola led a team of Ugandan MPs to Arbiska Forward Operating Base in Somalia, where they interacted with UPDF troops and the local leadership.

Among the things they did, the team visited a level II hospital in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, mannned by UPDF doctorys and nurses.

New Vision's Eddie Ssejjoba travelled with the team and covered their visit.

During their visit, the Ugandan legislators met local security leaders and were introduced to Sheikh Abdulahi Idi Amin, the son of the late Ugandan president, Idi Amin Dada.

Read: Ugandan MPs meet Amin's long lost son in Somalia

More stories on the 2019 visit

Uganda Airlines excites MPs in Somalia

MPs tour UPDF bases in Somalia
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1:45 pm |  PROFILE: Charles Okello Engola

Charles Okello Macodwogo Engola was serving as the Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations at the time of his death at 54 on May 1, 2023.

He was born was born on October 12, 1958 to Chief (Jago) Nasan Engola and Ketula Engola of Awangi, in Iceme, Oyam district.

Engola was the grandson of Rwot Olong Adilo and great-grandson of Rwot Olwa Abelli of Iceme.

He went to Kampala International University for a Bachelors in Development Studies in 2010 and Master of Public Administration and Management in 2013. 

He was a retired colonel in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces.

During his time in the military, he was commander of UPDF 501 Brigade in Gulu and retired in 2007.

His political career began in 2006 when he became the LC5 chairperson of Oyam District Council under the NRM flag until 2011.

In 2016, Engola joined Parliament as the MP Oyam North and was later named State Minister of Defence.

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1:24 pm |  'We caucused together'

The killer bodyguard had been newly assigned to protect minister Engola, gender and labour minister Betty Amongi tells reporters in Kyanja.

Amongi says he was "one of the many bodyguards that he [minister Engola] had because he had a lead car".

"On behalf of the people of Lango, his constituency — I represent Oyam South, he represented Oyam North — it is sad. The people of Lango and the people of Uganda have lost a person who had already been requested to support Government on the issue of Karimojong cattle rustling.

"He had already made a programme to go and have a meeting on the ground with the hnourable minister of internal affairs," says Amongi.

Yesterday, he gave a speech in Namutumba [labour day national celebration]. We organised the function together. We caucused together on what would be done and he performed this function very well.

"And actually, the Sabiiti who shot him was with him. He was bodyguarding him in his principle car yesterday when he went to Namutumba."


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1:05 pm |  One of Engola's last pictures alive 📸

Here is one of the last pictures of the late minister Charles Okello Engola in public, taken on the eve of his death.

The picture was taken by New Vision's Donald Kiirya on a rainy Monday during the International Labour Day national celebrations in Namutumba district:

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12:48 pm |  Moments leading to shooting

On the reported claims that the killer bodyguard was demanding his payment, minister Baryomunsi tells Urban TV:

"Well, that we have not picked yet."

And adds: "The version that we have got from the onlookers who were there is that the honourable minister was preparing to take off for Cabinet, because today we are having a Cabinet sitting.

"And he came, the bodyguard opened for him, he entered his vehicle and then the bodyguard was now trying to open the flag of the vehicle and the ADC (aide-de-camp) was saluting the minister, ready to take off, to get out of the gate.

"Then Private Sabiiti Wilson opened fire at the ADC first and ran after the other bodyguard, who was trying to remove the flag, but also shooting. And in the process, the minister tried to get out of the vehicle and then he was shot dead instantly.

"Then the [bodyguard] ran out of the gate, strolled down into the nearby town and entered one of the shop, or saloon, and shot himself dead.

"This is the version we have received from the people who witnessed the events.

"Of course investigations have started.

"We await the report from the people who are carrying out investigations and whoever has useful information that you pick from the neighbours or onlookers, I think it will be very important to pass it on to the investigators so that the story can be completed, to know what could have been the trigger that moved this bodyguard to shoot early this morning," says minister Baryomunsi.
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12:30 pm |  Burial arrangements to 'be worked out'

ICT and national guidance minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi is one top government leaders who made their way to the late minister's home in Kyanja following the news of the tragic shooting.

After the body was taken to City Mortuary, Baryomunsi, flanked by fellow minister Betty Amongi and presidential advisor Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, addressed reporters, with Vision Group's Urban TV present to capture the minister's comments.

"This morning, one of his [minister Engola's] bodyguards opened fire on the minister and killed the minister and also injured the ADC (aide-de-camp), who has been rushed to Mulago, but he has been able to talk and doctors were arranging to take him to the theatre because he sustained injuries in his thigh and arms," he says.

"We hope that he will get out of danger. And Private Wilson Sabiiti (who pulled the trigger) killed himself."

"Investigations are being carried out," he adds.

"We also want to say burial arrangements are going to be worked out and the programme shall be released once we have agreed upon  it.

"We would like to convey condolences to the wife of the minister and the family, condolences to the President of Uganda and the entire Government and ministers, and the people of Lango, particularly his constituency (Oyam North), which he represented in Parliament of Uganda, and all Ugandans.

"And we pray that the good Lord rests his soul in eternal peace."

New Vision's Stuart Yiga captured some of Baryomunsi's comments on video: 👇🏽


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12:15 pm |  Engola's last public appearance

The late minister Charles Okello Engola's last public appearance was on May 1 during the national celebrations for the International Labour Day in Namutumba district in eastern Uganda.


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11:53 am |  Minister's body taken to mortuary

The minister's body has been moved from his home in Kyanja to the City Mortuary at Mulago.

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11:44 am |  Bodyguard shot 'several shots' — Police

Police spokesperson Fred Enanga on Tuesday confirmed the death of minister Engola while addressing a weekly security press briefing at the Police headquarters in Naguru, Kampala.

He said that they "don't want to speculate into what could be the motivation of this murder".

This is what he said: 👇🏽

We would like to confirm an unfortunate incident where the Minister of State for Labour, Employement and Industrial Relations, Hon. Rtd Col Charles Okello Engola was shot dead around 8am while entering his vehicle to go for work.

The shooting was done by one of his bodyguards at his residence in Kyanja, who allegedly fired several shots at close range and he fled from the scene up to the trading centre at Kyanja Ring Road, where he entered a saloon and also shot himself dead.

The Deputy Inspector General of Police, together with the Director of CID, have responded to this incident.

The investigation is currently in the early stages of review. We also dispatched a team of crime scene experts, who are using the most advanced forensics technology to get what exactly was the cause of this tragic murder.

We don't want to speculate into what could be the motivation of this murder, but we just want to confirm at this stage that the Hon. minister died at the scene.

We are also trying to establish if there are any other bodyguards who could have been injured. Until we confirm how many more were injured, we shall be able to give you that information.

We want to extend our condolences, first of all to His Excellency the President, members of Cabinet, the UPDF, the immediate family of the Hon. minister and all members of the public.

May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Watch the video of the same (posted on Police's timeline on Twitter): 👇🏽


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11:17 am

 A Police funeral van has arrived at the home of the late minister Charles Okello Engola, where his body is lying amid an aura of gloom and shock.
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11:14 am

 A huge area around the home of the late minister has been cordoned off, limiting access to only security and forensics personnel as well as key officials, including minister.

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11:09 am

 A number of ministers, including gender and labour minister Betty Amongi, are already at late Engola's home in Kyanja.

Wails have been heard from inside the wall-fenced residence of the deceased minister.

Meanwhile, eyewitnesses say that the killer bodyguard was "a disgruntled man", reportedly angry over not being paid for months.
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10:58 am

The late minister Engola is said to have had a lead car. But what really happened this morning when he his bodyguard turned the gun on his boss?

Nothing is clear as per now.

Former Kawempe North MP Latif Ssebagala is a residential neighbour to the late minister. Commenting about the incident on local TV, he says that Engola was preparing to get into his car to set off for work when his bodyguard pulled the trigger.

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10:47 am  | The saloon 📸

New Vision's Simon Masaba is near the scene of Tuesday's deadly shooting.

"[In the picture below] The second door from the right is the saloon in which the guard shot himself," he reports.

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10:42 am  | Driver fled scene — eyewitness

The home of Minister Engola has been cordoned off as stunned residents line Kyanja Ring Road in the area.

A lot of information is emerging that we cannot independently verify as this story continues to develop.

One account indicates that after shooting the minister, the guard was pursued by four of his colleagues. One reportedly suffered a gunshot wound and was taken to nearby Jubilee Medical Centre for emergency treatment.

An ambulance arrived to take him to another health facility.
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10:30 am  | Driver fled scene — eyewitness

It is not clear what exactly happened, but eyewitnesses are giving their own accounts of what transpired.

One says that the minister's driver fled the scene after the shooting.

Another says the killer guard entered a nearby saloon, ordered everyone to vacate, before turning the gun on himself.
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9:59 am

Residents in the neighbourhood say they heard several shots fired in the air.
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9:48 am |   BREAKING NEWS

The Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations and Oyam North MP, Charles Okello Engola, was Tuesday shot dead in Kyanja, Nakawa Division in Kampala.

The incident happened at around 9:30am Tuesday, an eyewitness said.

The shooter is said to have been a military guard as well as the minister's bodyguard, and he reportedly took his own life after the deadly shooting.

Engola, 64, was also a retired colonel in the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF).

He served as defence state minister, before he was transferred to the labour portfolio.

The information below, which we cannot independently verify, speaks of "an army man" who "has lost it": 👇🏽

An army man here in Kyanja has lost it, shooting aimlessly at people, I just pray he hasn’t hit anyone otherwise it’s very scary....He has actually shot him self too , we shall come out with a detailed statement in a few minutes.

(This is a developing story. We shall update this page as details emerge.)