Police Investigate Murder of State Minister Charles Okello Engola

Detectives from the Uganda Police Force are investigating the murder of Col (Rtd) Charles Okello Engola, the State Minister for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations.

The minister was tragically shot dead at around 8:00 am while entering his vehicle to go to work at his home in Kyanja, a suburb of Kampala. The individual responsible for the shooting, who was identified as Private Wilson Sabiti the minister’s bodyguard, later went on a rampage at Kyanja ring road where he entered a salon and shot himself dead.

Fred Enanga, the Police Spokesperson, has stated that the police are not speculating on the motive behind the murder at this time, but that crime scene officers were already at the scene.

“The Deputy IGP and the Director CID have responded to this incident. The investigation is currently in the early stage of review. We have also dispatched a team of crime scene experts who are using the most advanced forensic technology to get the exact cause of this tragic murder,” says Enanga.

Enanga further confirmed that the minister died at the scene and that the police are currently investigating whether any other bodyguards were injured in the shooting.

Ronald Otim, who was Engola’s ADC sustained severe injuries and is seeking treatment at Mulago Hospital.

About Charles Okello Engola

Born October 12, 1958 in Oyam district, Engola attended a local primary school. He later went to Soroti Secondary School in Soroti City, Eastern Uganda.

In 2010, he went back to school and obtained a Bachelor of Developmental Studies at Kampala International University. He would later obtain his second degree, a Master of Public Administration and Management at the same university in 2013.

While in the military, Engola was the commander of UPDF 501 Brigade, headquartered at Opit, in Gulu. The brigade played a role in fighting the Lord’s Resistance Army, LRA. He was promoted to the rank of colonel and retired from the military in 2007.

During the 2006 national election cycle, Engola successfully contested for the Local Council 5 (LCV), Oyam District Council Chairmanship, on the ruling NRM political party ticket. He won in a landslide, winning 93 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 2011 and served as the LCV Chair for Oyam District for a continuous 10 years, from 2006. In 2016 he won the Oyam North parliamentary seat and is the incumbent member of parliament.

On 6 June 2016, Engola was appointed to the cabinet as State Minister of Defence. In the cabinet reshuffle of 14 December 2019, Engola retained his portfolio. At the time of his death, Engola was serving as State Minister for Labor, Employment and Industrial Relations.

May his soul rest in eternal peace.