President Yoweri Museveni has paid special tribute to late Col (Rtd) Charles Engola Macodwodogo, the Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations.
Engola was yesterday gunned down by his own UPDF bodyguard at his home in Kyanja, who later turned the same rifle on himself, killing him as well.
In a special message, Museveni has described late Engola as a “lion” for his fearlessness in pacifying Uganda.
“Colonel (rtd) Charles Engola was a lion. I, first, saw him in Lubiri barracks (before it was returned to the Kabaka) manning a 14.5mm anti-air-craft gun in 1986. Later, he became an infantry Commander in the Minakulu area. That is when he got his Machodwogo Kikubyo (praise name),” Museveni said.
In Luo language, Mac means fire, while Dwogo means, “Coming back.”
He said the peasants who gave him that Praise name, meant that when he took command of the Army in the area, people were able to make fires again in order to cook and warm themselves.
“On account of that popularity, he was elected LC-5 Chairman and, eventually, Member of Parliament. I was very happy to appoint him a Minister of State. His killing by this bodyguard was a big crime
to Patriotism in Uganda,” he said, adding that investigation into his death are ongoing
” I await the conclusion of that investigation before I comment on the security of public officials and the mistakes made and how we will rectify them,” Museveni added.
