Uganda never celebrated independence in 1970

By Samuel Oduny

One most important information for Ugandans to know is that the Independence celebrations never took place in 1970.

Ugandans were surprised when such an important day for the country was not commemorated.

It was the 8th independence anniversary.

On January 25, 1970 the Masaka brigade commander at, Brigadier Okoya was shot dead with his wife Anna at their home at Koro along Kampala – Gulu highway.

This was a sad moment in the country especially to the people of northern Uganda.

The Army constituted a board of inquiry headed by the Late Colonel Pirino Obol, Major Oyite Ojok, Major Emmanuel Ogwal, Major John Mwaka, Lt. Wooley Odong of Uganda Airforce who was his secretary and Lt. Lukwiya military, Education Officer at Mbarara to find out the cause of his death.

The commission came out with a full report claiming that Amin the Commander of the Army used Captain Smurts Guwedeko who was the base Commander of the Air force in Gulu to take part in the incident which led to the death of the Late Okoya.

According to the report, Mukwaya and Kasule who were technicians in the Air force were claimed to have also assisted in the plan to kill Okoya and his wife.

The military board of inquiry and the police investigation into the circumstances which led to the murder of Okoya was traced back when there was an Extra delegate’s conference on December 19, 1969 of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) held at Lugogo indoor stadium where an assassination attempt on the life of President Milton Obote took place.

Brigadier Okoya took control of the security of Kampala and made sure President Obote was taken to Mulago for treatment.

Surprisingly Amin the Commander of the Army was not available.

All information sent to the Army Commander was not responded to.

A team of army officers went physically at Amin’s residence but never found him.

When General Amin appeared the following day and asked by Okoya why he was not available, he responded to that he had travelled to Bombo.

A  defence council meeting chaired by the Minister of Defence, Felix Onama was immediately convened on Obote’s release from the hospital.

In that meeting Okoya talked very bitterly against Amin conserning the incidence that took place at Lugogo which almost claimed Obote’s life.

A month later, Okoya was shot dead at his home Village in Gulu.

Many inquiries and investigations pinned down Amin that he took part in killing Brigadier Okoya.

Plan to apprehend Amin coincided with the death of President Nasser of Egypt.

Amin had gone for an unofficial visit to Egypt and arrangement to arrest him took place during the week of Independence of Uganda.

The Uganda government released a statement that there was no celebration because Uganda was mourning the death of President Nasser of Egypt.

Meanwhile Captain Smurts, Mukwaya and Kasule of Uganda Airforce were already detained and put at Luzira maximum prison.

The plan to arrest Amin failed and there were no celebrations of Uganda Independence.

A year later, Amin overthrew the UPC government on January 25, 1971 the same date Amin was suspected of killing Brigadier Okoya and his wife Anna.