No govt plot to kill Oyite Ojok � Otai
By Badru Mulumba
April 25 - May 1, 2004
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Following various theories about David Oyite Ojok�s death, which we published last Sunday, Badru Mulumba sent e-mail to Mr Peter Otai, former State Minster for Defence at the time and asked him to explain the mystery surrounding the tragedy. Here is Otai�s side of the story:
His telephone was not ex-directory and he was willing to give it to anyone who asked for it. Persons who sought audience with him and vice versa included, inter alia, those in the high echelons of authority in government, churches, workers and the peasants. David interacted with people of various nationalities, tribe and any ethnic group without discrimination. If anyone dropped onto him at his house, one would find an array of peoples and wonder if the gatherings was not a mini United Nations! He was truly a people�s man. David was a nationalist and professional soldier; he was the kind of person who would fit the description of a soldier�s soldier. He graduated from Mons Military academy in UK and returned to serve his country with zeal and professionalism. Although he was also a Member of Parliament, this did not compromise his attitude towards civil authority. He was, like many soldiers in the UNLA, aware of the fact that the army was subordinate to civil authority. David Oyite Ojok�s awareness of the supremacy of civil authority is demonstrated by the fact that when he announced the fall of Kampala to the liberation forces, consisting of TDF, Kikosi Maalum and other Ugandan �mini� forces like SUM and FRONASA, he also told his listeners to await for further announcements from civil authority consistent with decisions taken at the Moshi Conference. I would like to clear the spate of rumour mongering and speculation surrounding the death of David to the best ability that I can marshal: On the fateful day of Oyite Ojok�s death, H.E. President Dr. A.M. Obote was in India, having gone to moan and bury a friend and leader of government of India, Ms Indira Ghandi. The President was accompanied, during that trip, by a number of officials and ministers, including myself. On our return we were authoritatively briefed about the events of that day. Notwithstanding the joy and celebrations of NRA who had claimed that they had shot down the helicopter in which David was a passenger, which of course they had not, we were advised to ignore that claim, which had already been dismissed by the government authorities in Uganda as false. David, as Chief of Staff, had gone to address troops who were about to mount a major operation against NRA. He had gone with a number of members of his team in three helicopters. He gave an eloquent address to the troops and settled down with them to have a few snacks. As the sun was about to set, the first pilot who was ready to leave, asked him if he intended to travel in his chopper. David gave him permission to leave since he was still enjoying his conversation with the soldiers and men around him. After a short while the second pilot approached him to find out if he would travel with them since he was ready to leave. David said, �yes�, and asked his ADC and Ag. Chief of Military Intelligence, Lt. Kato, to alert his team to get ready to leave. When they were aboard, the pilot started the engine and the chopper lifted off to a height from which to start to move forward. The soldiers at the site tried everything to put out the flame and to save the passengers but to no avail. The third plane was still on the ground. In other words if there had been a conspiracy to kill Oyite Ojok that day, the perpetrators would have had to rig all three choppers, since they would not have known which chopper David was going to travel in. Furthermore, it would have had to be rigged whilst the three choppers were parked in front of the guards detailed to protect them! The plane he chose to travel in was not the one he had used before for. From the above explanation it is clear to me that this was a horrible accident. An Accident that robbed off a precious jewel from the bosom of Ugandans. Kikosi Maalum led by Toto Okello and Oyite Ojok were in the toughest eastern axis with the TDF forces, which fought great battles against Idi Amin�s forces, which were backed up by Libyans, until the capture of Kampala. Whilst Oyite was at the front with the TDF, Gen. Okello was at the rear headquarters with senior TDF commanders. As a professional soldier cognisant of the fact that the army is subordinate to civil authority, David could and would not and indeed did not point a gun at the President. If he had done so, the close escort presidential guard, which included Tanzanian officers depending on when the event was alleged to have occurred (since later they the Tanzanians left) would have arrested David. Even the Ugandan Escorts would have arrested David if he had attempted to do such a thing. Furthermore the Vice President who was minister and I as Minister of State for Defence would have been answerable for what is alleged to have happened. Treat the allegation as a lie. Some of the TDF senior officers who I interacted with before they returned to Tanzania told me that Oyite Ojok excelled in war; he had phenomenal ability to command, and the junior officers and men believed in him. He had enormous stamina and fitness, an asset, which endeared him to his men and fellow Tanzanian commanders. Walking all the way from Kagera to Kampala fighting one�s way forward is not a child�s game. It was a war of professionals not armatures, commented some TDF officers in admiration of Oyite Ojok. An order to summon all ministers to report to Kampala would require a radio announcement, which every Ugandan would have heard. It would be monstrous for such a public announcement, to filter to terrorist who could have taken an advantage to way lay ministers on the way to Kampala. A man who was willing to lay his life to protect life, liberty and property as required of him by the Constitution, could not make such an order. It is a monstrous allegation. Despite the occasional disturbances caused by NRA rebels at night, most Ugandans socialised in the evenings at various dancing places. Whenever Oyite Ojok went up country he was feted even more than ministers were, but that did not make him pompous.
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