Tito Lutwa Okello | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 8th President of Uganda | |
| In office 29 July 1985 – 26 January 1986 | |
| Preceded by | Bazilio Olara-Okello |
| Succeeded by | Yoweri Museveni |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Tito Lutwa Okello 15 October 1914 |
| Died | 3 June 1996(1996-06-03) (aged 81) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  British Empire Uganda |
| Branch/service | British Army Uganda Army Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) |
| Years of service | 1940–1962 (British Empire) 1962–1971 (Uganda Army) 1979–1986 (UNLA) |
| Rank | General |
| Unit | King's African Rifles Uganda Army Uganda National Liberation Army |
| Battles/wars | |
Tito Lutwa Okello (15 October 1914 – 3 June 1996) was a Ugandanmilitary officer andpolitician who served as the eighthpresident of Uganda from 29 July 1985 until 26 January 1986.[1]
Tito Okello was born into an ethnicAcholi family in circa 1914 in Namukora,[2]Kitgum District.[3]
He joined theKing's African Rifles in 1940 and served in theEast African Campaign of World War II. As a career military officer, he had a variety of assignments.
As a follower of PresidentMilton Obote, Okello went into exile following the1971 coup d'état that resulted inIdi Amin becoming Uganda's new ruler. In 1972,rebels invaded Uganda to restore Obote. Okello was one of the leaders of an insurgent group which targetedMasaka. The invasion was defeated by loyalistUganda Army troops.[4]
Okello took part in theUganda–Tanzania War. He was one of the commanders in the coalition between theTanzania People's Defence Force and theUganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) that removed Amin from power in 1979. In 1980, Obote was restored to presidency. Okello was selected to be the Commander of the UNLA from 1980 to 1985.[1]
In July 1985, together withBazilio Olara-Okello, Tito Lutwa Okello staged thecoup d'état that toppled President Obote. Okello ruled as president for six months until he had to transfer power to theNational Resistance Army (NRA) operating under the leadership of the current president,Yoweri Museveni. He went into exile inKenya after his tenure was forcefully terminated by Museveni.[3]
Tito Okello's sonHenry Oryem Okello is the current State Minister for Foreign Affairs responsible for International Affairs.[1][3] In 2002, Tito Okello's younger brother, Erisanweri Opira, was abducted from his home inKitgum District by the rebel group, theLord's Resistance Army (LRA). His abduction was considered unusual as the LRA usually kidnapped teenagers and young people to use as prospective soldiers or sex slaves. Opira was in his late seventies when he was abducted.[5]
Okello remained in exile until 1993, when he was granted amnesty by President Museveni and returned to Kampala. He died three years later, of an undisclosed illness, on 3 June 1996. He was almost 82 years old at the time of his death. He was buried at his ancestral home in Kitgum District.[6]
In January 2010, Okello was posthumously awarded the Kagera National Medal of Honour for fighting against theIdi Amin dictatorship in the 1970s.[7]
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | President of Uganda 29 July 1985 – 26 January 1986 | Succeeded by |
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