Family endorses Engola Junior to succeed his father as Oyam North MP

OYAM, UGANDA: The family of the late Col (rtd) Charles Okello Engola Macodwogo have endorsed his son Samuel Junior Engola to replace him as Oyam North MP, a position he held alongside his ministerial duties.

During Engola’s burial ceremony, Kwania County MP Tonny Ayo who spoke on behalf of the family members petitioned H.E President to consider Engola Junior when the time comes for a by-election of the area MP.

Mr Ayo added that according to the Parliamentary Election Act, the Electoral Commission is mandated to organize a byelection within three months when a constituency seat falls vacant as a result of the death of the occupant or for another reason.

During the first official funeral service held Wednesday at Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala, Engola Junior spoke on behalf of the children in their collective eulogy where he talked of the many hats that their father wore, including being a soldier, farmer, philanthropist and politician.

He said each of the children naturally took on one of those hats and, on his part, Junior said he is the politician of the household, and it is no wonder that family fronted him as the man to fill his father’s political shoes in the form of the Oyam North parliamentary seat.

Speaking briefly after his endorsement on Saturday evening, Engola Junior consented to the proposal and rallied voters of the constituency to back him when the time for elections comes.

He quoted Ecclesiastes 9:5-6; “For the living know that they will die but the day knows nothing and even their names are forgotten.”

Vice President Jessica Alupo who represented President Yoweri Museveni in Oyam gave sh 20 million as condolence to support the family of the late minister.

Relatedly, officers from the UPDF, Ministers, MPs and several heads of departments contributed millions of shillings to help the widow; Joyce Engola and the family of the fallen hero.