David Oyite-Ojok
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (October 2013) |
David Oyite-Ojok | |
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Uganda (1963–1971) Ugandan rebels loyal to Milton Obote (1971–1979) Uganda (Obote government; from 1979) | |
Service/ | Uganda Army (1963–1971) Kikosi Maalum (1971–1979) UNLA (from 1979) |
Years of service | 1963–1983 |
Rank | Major general |
Battles/wars | 1972 invasion of Uganda Uganda–Tanzania War Ugandan Bush War |
David Oyite Ojok (15 April 1940 – 2 December 1983) was a Ugandan military officer who held one of the leadership positions in the coalition between
Military career before 1979
An ethnic Lango,[3] Oyite Ojok was born in Lira District[2] on 15 April 1940. Although there are few documented details regarding David Oyite Ojok's early years, he was initially noted in his late twenties as a junior army officer serving during the 1966–71 period of President Milton Obote's first government.[4]
Oyite-Ojok joined the
It is not just a victory for us alone, but for the rest of Uganda. With our blood, we have served notice on other oppressive dictatorships in Africa that there comes a time when African people will rise and fight for their right to liberty.
—Oyite-Ojok on the overthrow of Amin, 1979[10]
By 1971, Oyite-Ojok served as lieutenant colonel,[2] but was forced to flee his home country when Idi Amin overthrew Obote in a coup. Relocating to Tanzania, Oyite-Ojok joined the guerrilla army Obote was organizing to regain power.[1] While operating in exile, Oyite-Ojok gradually gained a "legendary" reputation in Uganda. Rumours circulated about him sneaking into the Ugandan capital where he would party with locals at popular nightspots and ask that the bills be sent to President Amin. The latter allegedly responded by putting a $70,000 bounty on Oyite-Ojok's head.[11] In 1972, Oyite-Ojok took part in a rebel invasion of Uganda which aimed at restoring Obote to presidency. Striking from their exile in Tanzania, the rebels attacked in two columns, with Oyite-Ojok reportedly leading the group targeting Masaka. However, the operation resulted in a major rebel defeat.[12][13] After this failure, Obote reorganized his remaining forces; he mobilized a "navy" of six boats on Lake Victoria which would conduct smuggling operations to finance the rebels as well as set up an underground network in Uganda. Oyite-Ojok was entrusted with command of Obote's "navy".[14]
The
Oyite-Ojok's reputation grew immensely during the Uganda–Tanzania War. Some people, including Tito Okello, attributed the Tanzanian victories in the Battle of Lukaya and the Fall of Kampala to his leadership.[17]
Transition period
Oyite Ojok became a member, along with Yoweri Museveni, Paulo Muwanga and Tito Okello, of the Military Commission, a powerful sub-committee of the Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF) which ruled the country after Idi Amin's overthrow.[2] Like most people in power after the fall of Amin, Oyite-Ojok illegally amassed a great amount of wealth. One of his most successful business ventures was coffee export, and he became chairman of the Coffee Making Board.[9] He remained loyal to Obote who was preparing to return from exile. The alliance of political forces in the UNLF under President Yusuf Lule soon began to unravel. Of significant importance was the emergence of tribal rivalry. On the one side were those from the North who made up the bulk of the new national army, and on the other those from the South (particularly those from the Buganda tribe) who for the first time since 1964 had significant political and military influence.[2]
As chief of staff of the UNLA in its new role as Uganda's national army, Oyite Ojok was supposed to stay neutral and above the political disputes. Instead of doing so, Oyite Ojok fully backed Obote.
Lule was replaced by another
In May 1980, Oyite Ojok gained greater power when "figurehead president" Binaisa dismissed him as army chief in an attempt to reduce the power of the Military Commission. In response the Military Commission removed Binaisa from office and declared the country would be ruled by a Presidential Commission which included Muwanga, Museveni, Oyite Ojok and Okello. Although as chairman, Muwanga presented the face of the Commission, real power was held by Oyite Ojok.[2] Meanwhile, Oyite-Ojok also organized his personal death squad led by his trusted follower Captain Patrick Ageta. This 30-strong squad roamed Kampala in two jeeps, and murdered several political opponents of the chief of staff.[9]
Return of Milton Obote
The Presidential Commission now paved the way for the return of Obote and organised what an general election in December 1980. Oyite-Ojok campaigned on behalf of Obote, using his status as "legendary commander" to rally northerners to his cause. Firmly rooted in tribalist ideas, the officer believed that the elections would decide which ethnic group controlled Uganda's wealth. Researcher Opiyo Oloya argued that this "was the game as [Oyite-Ojok] saw and played it". Despite being an ethnic Lango, Oyite Ojok managed to gain the support of many traditionally marginalised Acholi people.[3] The 1980 elections resulted in "victory" for Obote's Uganda Peoples Congress and Obote became president for the second time, confirming Oyite-Ojok as Army Chief of Staff. Museveni, who had formed a rival political party, the Uganda Patriotic Front, disputed the result and started a guerrilla war against the government.[18]
As Army Chief of Staff, Oyite-Ojok was responsible for attempting to defeat the guerrilla armies of Museveni's
By 1983, the UNLA under Oyite-Ojok had effectively defeated the NRA and UFM. However, tensions increasingly emerged in the military, as a rivalry developed between the two northern tribes that dominated the army -the
On 2 December 1983, Oyite-Ojok died in a helicopter crash. The NRA claimed that it had shot down his Bell 412, whereas Obote's government claimed that the crash had been the result of a technical failure. Soon, conspiracy theories emerged, alleging that Obote had arranged the death of his army commander as the latter had grown too powerful.[2]
Aftermath
In the decades following the helicopter crash which ended David Oyite Ojok's life at the age of 43, documented details have not been made public. The political ramifications for Uganda, however, were severe. Acholi officers now expected Obote to appoint an Acholi to replace Oyite Ojok. One obvious candidate, Bazilio Olara-Okello who, although unrelated to Tito Okello, was, as in the case of Oyite Ojok, another officer who participated in the overthrow of Idi Amin. Obote, nevertheless, appointed a junior Langi officer, Smith Apon-Achak. This further alienated the Acholi officers who overthrew Obote's government two years later.
Despite having fought against Museveni, Oyite-Ojok has been honored by the latter's government as a national hero.[2]
Citations
- ^ a b Seftel 2010, p. 275.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Oyite Ojok, one of Uganda's best soldiers". New Vision. 8 February 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ a b c Oloya 2013, p. 39.
- ^ "What killed Gen. Oyite-Ojok?". Monitor. 14 September 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ^ a b Omii Omara-Otunnu, Politics and the Military in Uganda 1890–1985, p. 75, citing General and Administrative Order 9/1966.
- ^ Omara-Otunnu, 1987, 89.
- ^ Otunnu 2016, p. 230.
- S2CID 155043183.
- ^ a b c d Seftel 2010, p. 276.
- ^ Matatu 1979, p. 10.
- ^ Seftel 2010, pp. 275–276.
- ^ "Obote, Museveni blame each other for failed 1972 invasion of Uganda". Daily Monitor. 14 September 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ Mohr, Charles (19 September 1972). "Uganda Invaders reported halted by Amin's troops". The New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- ^ Avirgan & Honey 1983, p. 39.
- ^ Otunnu 2016, p. 318.
- ^ Cooper & Fontanellaz 2015, p. 28.
- ^ Otunnu 2016, pp. 319–320.
- ^ Oloya 2013, pp. 39–40.
References
- ISBN 978-9976-1-0056-3.
- Cooper, Tom; Fontanellaz, Adrien (2015). Wars and Insurgencies of Uganda 1971–1994. ISBN 978-1-910294-55-0.
- Matatu, Gordon (May 1979). "The End of Uganda's Nightmare". Africa. No. 93. pp. 10–16.
- Seftel, Adam, ed. (2010) [1st pub. 1994]. Uganda: The Bloodstained Pearl of Africa and Its Struggle for Peace. From the Pages of Drum. Kampala: Fountain Publishers. ISBN 978-9970-02-036-2.
- Oloya, Opiyo (2013). Child to Soldier: Stories from Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. ISBN 978-1-4426-1417-8.
- Otunnu, Ogenga (2016). Crisis of Legitimacy and Political Violence in Uganda, 1890 to 1979. Chicago: ISBN 978-3-319-33155-3.