• The bodyguard attached to the Ugandan Labour Minister killed him over KSh 100,000 delayed salary
• According to the bodyguard, he was frustrated because he had no money to take care of his pregnant wife
• The soldier turned the gun on himself after shooting his boss
Uganda’s State Minister for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, Col (rtd) Charles Okello Engola is dead, Yeiyo.com can authoritatively report.
Col (rtd) Charles Okello was shot dead on the morning of Tuesday, May 2, at his home in a Kampala suburb.
According to reports from the Matoke land, the minister’s aide-de-camp Ronald Otim was also severely injured and was rushed to Mulago hospital for treatment.
Officials close to the late Minister disclosed that he was shot dead by one of his bodyguards.
Ugandan Police reported that the bodyguard fired several shots at close range and fled the scene.
“He (Engola) was shot at his residence in Kyanja by one of his bodyguards who allegedly fired several shots at close range. He fled from the scene up to the trading centre at Kyanja, Ring Road where he entered a salon and also shot himself dead,” Police spokesperson, Fred Enanga told journalists in Kampala.
Yeiyo.com has learnt the shooter was identified as private Wilson Sabiiti.
The crime scene was cordoned off by security personnel as police launched investigations into the incident.
Uganda’s deputy Inspector General of Police, Maj Gen Geoffrey Tumusiime Katsigazi and the director of Criminal Investigation Department, Maj Tom Magambo were the first security chiefs to arrive at the late minister’s home.
Unconfirmed reports stated that the bodyguard had earlier complained that the slain minister owed him several months of unpaid salary as he shot in the air to warn civilians at Kyanja town, moments before turning the gun at himself.
“The guard said he hadn’t been paid KSh 100,000 (about $1,000). He said he had a pregnant woman and his children were not going to school yet the minister’s children were schooling,” an eyewitness told members of the fourth estate.
But, Gender and Labour minister Betty Amongi, who was among the first government officials who arrived at Engola’s home after the shooting, told journalists that Sabiiti “was a new bodyguard.”
“He has been working as his bodyguard for a month. He came from Bombo and joined other security guards assigned to the minister from the Ministry of Gender ad Labour,” Ms Amongi said.
Police spokesperson, Mr Enanga, said it was too early to confirm the motive of the shooting.
Ugandan media reported that the late minister was on his way to attend a Cabinet sitting when he was shot.
