Uganda's Movers and Shakers
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UGANDA’S MOVERS AND SHAKERS NEW VISION,Thursday, April 5, 2012 37 Daudi Ochieng, transcended tribal boundaries Ochieng’s intelligence, West Nile several times and oratory power and princely had been seen bringing back origins made him popular parcels to his home in Entebbe in the Kabaka Yekka Party. which he guarded with utmost The Baganda even had the security. Through a mistake by courtesy of accepting him as the the post office, whereby Amin’s representative for Mityana. bank statement was put into He was always opposing the wrong box, the following Obote`s tendency to over- information about his deposits centralise power. became available: he had To mark 50 years of Uganda’s Ochieng was one of the few deposited $1,500 on February independence, New Vision Kabaka Yeka Members of 5 1965; $9,000 on February will, until October 9, 2012, be Parliament, who refused to 15 $3,000 on February 17; publishing highlights of events cross to the Uganda People $28,250 on February 26 and and profiling personalities who Congress. $3,250 on 2nd March. As Amin have shaped the history of this had no known private means of country. Today, JOSHUA KATO Ochieng, the dare devil income, Ochieng wanted Felix revisits the archives and brings Ochieng nearly brought Obote’s Onama, the Minister of Defence, you the life of Daudi Ochieng. political life to an end in 1966 to initiate an investigation when he spearheaded a no into this sudden windfall. KABAKA Sir Edward Muteesa Confidence motion, which Incidentally, Onama had told described ‘his good friend’ would have forced Obote’s Parliament at the beginning of Daudi Ochieng as, “A huge, government to resign on the debate that Amin’s bank boisterous man, born in the account of smuggling gold account stood at $2,400. north, but with no love for and ivory from the Congo. Before introducing the Obote” This is because in more This prompted the Parliament information to Parliament, ways than one, Ochieng worked to institute a commission of Ochieng and Latim had the to advance everything against inquiry. courtesy of informing Felix Milton Obote in support of Sir Obote was furious that Onama and the Inspector Edward Muteesa. Ochieng wanted to bring down General of Police about the Ochieng had his whole life his government, yet his brother, whole situation. ahead of him but died at age Dr Martin Aliker, had been his When Amin got wind of the 41. By the time of his death, (Obote) best man in 1963. reports, he phoned Latim and Ochieng had caused enough The amendment was finally threatened to kill him and ruckus in the politics of this defeated but not before Ochieng. country. Ochieng (KY) and Alexander He later apologised to both He made friends with Edward Latim (DP) had revealed a lot gentlemen claiming that he had Muteesa and was a regular of damaging information in been upset by the allegations visitor at the Kabaka’s court. support of the motion. about his bank account. Onama, “He played cricket and rose “I can conclusively say that on his part, dismissed the through the administrative there is increased insecurity allegations against Amin calling ranks of class monitor, senior across the country,” Ochieng them “latrine talks”. monitor, head of the top class told a bemused Parliament. He even suggested that and prefect of Canada House in He confirmed that the Amin’s relatives had given him 1944,” Dr Edward Kayondo, a insecurity was not confined the money, or that Congolese Senior Consultant with the Old to Buganda but was spread refugees might have given it to Budonians Club says. throughout the country; that him for safe keeping. Realising Daudi Ochieng He left civil service and joined the soldiers patrolling near the futility of his justifications, full time politics in 1960 and the Congo border in West Nile Onama promised to initiate was one of the 21 members were becoming lawless; that the investigations into the matter. Obote and Amin. He died in ahead of him. He was married of the Buganda Lukiiko morale in the armed forces was The investigations were never detention. His relatives insist to Emma Namuli Ochieng. specially elected to the National low due to the soldiers’ belief carried out, since Brig Shaban that ground glass and poison Ironically, Ochieng was Fact file Assembly. that a few senior officers were Opolot, the Commander of the were added into his food. He the first of three other top At the time, it was not so making personal financial gain Uganda Army, was prevented died at Mulago Hospital on Acholis to die under unclear common for a northerner to out of the border incidents.” from initiating them according June 1, 1966, after succumbing circumstances. join a Buganda political party Ochieng also informed to the Military Law. to serious abdominal Col. Amola was to die Q Ochieng was born on and turn out to be one of the Parliament that Idi Amin, who Ochieng was imprisoned in complications. mysteriously in 1968, then Brig. February 2, 1925 at Awor- most eloquent of them all, but was then deputy commander of Lira Prison largely because He was aged only 41 years, Pierino Okoya was murdered anga near Gulu town. Ochieng did it. the Uganda Army, had visited of his revelations about with the entire political life in 1969. Q He attended Gulu Primary School from 1929 to 1933. Q In 1934, he joined Budo Junior School and went to Kings College Budo in 1939. His classmates On Friday included former MP Boni- face Byanyima and the we look at Democratic Party national chairperson, Paulo Sebalu. Canon Francis Q He joined Makerere University in 1945 to Fox Odoi, West Budama Butagira, study agriculture. Richard Todwong, Nwoya MP Q Ochieng worked at MP Ochieng was a nationalist Uganda’s Namulonge Agriculture Ochieng went beyond Nasser Sebaggala, former who transcended tribal Research Station after tribalism, serving his good Kampala Mayor differences. He was a first African graduating from Makerere He was Buganda’s best University. friend Kabaka Muteesa James Kakooza, Kabula MP northerner who became with loyalty. He was a good friend and central to its a Muganda and set high Speaker Q In 1955 he later went to politics. Ochieng spoke Ochieng was a statesman Britain for further studies. ambassador of the Acholi who always wanted services standards for an MP when worth emulating today Luganda so eloquently that Kabaka Yekka (KY) MPs When he returned to you could not believe he was delivered to all Ugandans Uganda, he was posted to when tribalism issues are with fairness. joined Uganda’s Peoples widespread. an Acholi. Congress. Tororo as an agricultural officer..