Representatives of the Otikokin clan in Lango sub-region have said they are pursuing payment of compensation for the killing of their son, Col (rtd) Charles Patrick Okello Engola, the Ugandan former State minister for Labour.
Clan leaders say plans are underway to approach the clan to which army Private Wilson Sabiiti belonged in Tooro Sub-region from whom they intend to ask for blood money.
But their efforts may run into difficulties even before first contact is made. A senior member of Tooro’s cultural institution yesterday pointed out that Sabiiti did not act on behalf of Tooro when he took the Junior minister’s life on the morning of Tuesday, May 2.
Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister, Mr Steven Kiyinji, told Daily Monitor that since Sabiti was on official duty at the time of the tragic shooting, the responsibility for the killing cannot be tribalised.
“Don’t tribalise this issue, it’s a national issue. It was a national failure on the part of the soldier. If there is any compensation to be paid, it’s UPDF to whom Sabiiti belonged to pay and Lango people should talk to UPDF,” Mr Kiyinji said.
Pte Sabiiti was one of the retired colonel’s bodyguards, who instead shot the minister dead at his home in Kyanja, Kampala before also taking his own life.
Among the Lango peoples, a traditional, restorative justice mechanism known as kayo cuk is one of the reconciliatory processes practised in cases of a grievous nature, such as killings.
Similar to mato oput which is practised in the neighbouring Acholi Sub-region, kayo cuk is an ancient, time honoured practice for accountability and reconciliation between communities in conflict.
Its use has, however, been diminished with the passing of time, and also partly because of poverty.
