Otoa was a committed patriot, says Museveni
Col (Rtd) Tony Otoa is laid to rest at his ancestoral home in Bar Oganda, Agweng Sub-county in Lira District on May 7. PHOTO | BILL OKETCH
What you need to know:
- Col (Rtd) Tony Otoa, who played a key role in supplying weapons to President Milton Obote’s forces during the fight against Yoweri Museveni’s National Resistance Army rebels, died on April 28, at the age of 85
Col (Rtd) Tony Otoa was a peace-loving person, a man whose integrity, faithfulness, and ability to serve selflessly and impacted those around him positively, mourners have said.
The mourners made the remarks at the burial ceremony of Col Otoa, a former Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) soldier, at Bar Oganda Village, Agweng Sub-county in Lira District last week.
Col Otoa, who played a key role in supplying weapons to President Milton Obote’s forces during the fight against Yoweri Museveni’s National Resistance Army (NRA) rebels, died on April 28, at the age of 85.
The Vicar General of Lira Catholic Diocese, Monsignor Valente Innocent Opio, told hundreds of mourners who attended the ceremony that Col Otoa was a peace-loving person.
“And I remember vividly, during the GANAL provincial prayer peace week in Lango College (Lira City), not only once, but I think for about two years, Col played a very significant role in the success of that peace week,” he said.
Monsignor Opio added: “He gave a presentation, which was also related to peace. I don't quite remember the title of the paper that he presented. But at the end of the presentation, for those two consecutive years, if I remember well, he never forgot to play a song related to peace.”
The Vicar General said the late Otoa also fought to bring peace to humanity, especially to the people of Uganda.
“And his entire life reflected the man of peace, and that is why I chose the text from the Gospel of St Matthew about the Beatitudes…Yes, at the loss of such a great man, we are grieved, we are pained, and humanly speaking; we feel that we cannot cry enough,” he said.
Monsignor Opio, however, said those who witnessed Col Otoa’s sendoff were privileged to be able to gather as his family and friends to pray for him and for ourselves, and to offer the sacrifice of Eucharist, thanksgiving.
“Thanksgiving to God for the gift of his life, life well lived,” said Monsignor Opio. “It is said that the greatness of a man or a human being is not in how much wealth or material or fame he or she acquires in this life, but in his integrity, faithfulness, and his ability to give of himself completely, selflessly, and affect those around him positively. And this was done by the late Col Tony Otoa,” he added.
Dr Michael Moses Odongo Okune, the Paramount Chief of Lango, said the death of Col Otoa, who was the Abwor Clan chief, should unite the people of Lango.
“We have wasted a lot of time fighting over the leadership of the Lango Cultural Institution. Enough is enough. Let's now try to work with this [lanky] man called Odongo Okune. If we find that he is not competent enough, then we shall find a replacement,” he said.
President Museveni, in a speech read for him by Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, a former prime minister, said the departed ex-soldier was a great and committed patriot, who represented the Uganda People’s Defence Forces in the sixth Parliament and many other respects.
