Maj Gen Julius Oketta dies at 60
Maj Gen. Julius Oketta, the Deputy Coordinator Operation Wealth Creation. Monitor Photo
What you need to know:
- Gen Oketta was awarded a medal of honor by the President of Liberia for his role in the fight against Ebola which claimed hundreds of lives in West Africa last year.
- One of Gen Oketta’s last public appearances was on Kfm’s Hot seat radio talk show in Kampala discussing the recent strike at and closure of Makerere University.
- From 1989 until 1993, he served as the Division Commander of the 6th Division of the National Resistance Army (NRA) which metamorphosed into the UPDF. From 2001 until 2003, he served as the Chief of Logistics and Engineering in the UPDF. In 2003, he served as the Uganda Liaison Officer, in the Republic of Sudan.
KAMPALA. Maj Gen. Julius Oketta, the Deputy Coordinator Operation Wealth Creation, died this morning at Kadic Hospital, Kampala. He was 60.
UPDF spokesperson Lt. Col Paddy Ankunda confirmed the death and told Daily Monitor that an inquest was underway to determine the cause of his death. Unconfirmed reports, however, pointed to a cardiac arrest as the cause of death.
At the time of his death, Gen Oketta was also serving as the Director National Emergency Coordination and Operations in the Office of the Prime Minister. He represented Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF) in the 9th Parliament.
The fallen general served the army in different capacities rising through the ranks over time.
From 1989 until 1993, he served as the Division Commander of the 6th Division of the National Resistance Army (NRA) which metamorphosed into the UPDF. From 2001 until 2003, he served as the Chief of Logistics and Engineering in the UPDF. In 2003, he served as the Uganda Liaison Officer, in the Republic of Sudan.
He also served as the Head of the Procurement and Disposal Unit at the Defence ministry.
In September 2014, Gen Oketta was nominated to join the African Union-led humanitarian mission to address the threat of the Ebola virus to the continent.
The mission code-named Africa Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) is based in Ethiopia.
Gen Oketta was awarded a medal of honor by the President of Liberia for his role in the fight against Ebola which claimed hundreds of lives in West Africa last year.
One of Gen Oketta’s last public appearances was on Kfm’s Hot seat radio talk show in Kampala discussing the recent strike at and closure of Makerere University.
