By Charles Etukuri

FORMER President Apollo Milton Obote, who passed away on Monday in a South African hospital, left a will detailing his burial plans and his last wish.

Adoko Nekyon, who is Obote’s first cousin and a close political associate, said “Before his death, Obote had communicated to close family members that he wanted to be buried at his ancestral home in Akokoro, Apac district near his grandfather Chief Akaki Nekyon.”

Chief Akaki was a Langi chief who was instrumental in the fight against colonialists and supported Omukama Kabalega of Bunyoro while he was fighting the British.

Akaki was instrumental in shaping Obote’s political career. Adoko said Obote did not mention his heir in the will.

Top UPC officials yesterday agreed to respect the wishes of the family and have Obote buried in his home area.

The officials were yesterday holed up in Uganda House, which also houses the UPC headquarters, discussing burial arrangements.

Family members and party officials had thronged Adoko Nekyon’s home on Naguru Hill to observe a vigil for the fallen ex-president.

Meanwhile, it was not clear whether Obote’s body would be flown into the country directly or first taken to his Zambia home where he has been living for the last 20 years.

Party officials said they were making arrangements with the South African government and the Zambian government to coordinate the burial plans.

“We are in touch with the family in Zambia to see that we agree on a common arrangement,” Adoko Nekyon said. He said Obote had died a poor man. “He had only two houses, one in Lira that was vandalised by the UPDF and another in Nakasero, which the army had refused to vacate.”

He is survived by a wife and five children; James Akena, who was at his deathbed in South Africa, Bernard Opeto, who is the youngest and has been living with him in Zambia, Tonny Akaki, who is a volunteer worker in West Africa with the United Nations, Eddy Engena, who was living with the mother in Nairobi and a girl, Achena, who lives in Nairobi.

Meanwhile, Forum for Democratic Change UK Co-ordinator and nephew to Obote, Sam Akaki, is still admitted in a UK hospital after collapsing yesterday upon receiving the news of Obote’s death. Enock Oluka, a friend to Akaki, said he was recuperating.