KAMPALA, UGANDA: President Museveni has directed the army leadership to effect the cultural practice of ‘Mato Oput’ for the reconciliation of late Minister Charles Engola’s clan leadership with the family of UPDF officer Pte Wilson Sabiiti.
In his message during the minister’s state funeral at Kololo Independence Grounds on Wednesday in Kampala, Mr Museveni said that the army is willing to forgive Pt. Wilson Sabiiti but on one condition, to do ‘mato Oput’ because that system of reconciliation is not bad.
“I think the people to do mato oput are the army. And they will have to do it. Engola, don’t worry about the seven cows. The army has got more cows, they can bring more cows than seven,” the president said.
Museveni apologized to the family of the late Charles Engola, the people of Lango, Uganda and Africa for the killing, adding that the minister’s murder remained a huge stain on the reputation of the UPDF.
He told UPDF leaders at the burial, who included Mbadi, that for Engola “to be killed by one of your own, who is supposed to guard him, is a big embarrassment.”
Museveni said he was angry as the precious life of a resourceful official like Engola was cut short by “someone from our (UPDF) system.”
The President said he knew Engola Okello in 1986 when he went to Lubiri Barrack for the first time and said Engola had nothing to do with the cause of his death, the problem must be from somewhere else.
Earlier on Minister Betty Amongi said Sabiiti was an employee of the state and Lango cannot condemn the clan of Toro kingdom for his sinful act but how do we isolate individual indiscipline people who take the law into their hands
Prime Minister Robinah Nabanja commended Engola Okello for being a strong cadre of NRM.
According to Brigadier Felix Kulayigye UPDF gave 96 million shillings to the family of the late Col.Engola Mac-Odwogo.
Engola, who was the State Minister for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, was shot dead by Sabiiti, who at that time was his bodyguard at his home in Kyanja, Kampala. Sabiiti also shot himself dead not long after killing his principal whom he had been tasked with protecting.
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