554:(Tito Okello – the Army Commander's tribe). The majority of the army foot soldiers were Acholi and it was they who suffered most casualties in the war, and it is rumoured that they wanted to engage in peace talks with the guerrillas. Meanwhile, the elite Special Forces and most of the officers closest to Obote were Langi – and were fiercely opposed to any negotiations with the NRA. A rift also emerged between Oyite-Ojok and Obote, as the former seized properties of the Coffee Marketing Board and began to amass a fortune by smuggling coffee out of Uganda. At one point, the army commander and President engaged in a fierce dispute over this issue, with Oyite-Ojok reportedly telling his superior that "it was because of him and the army that he (Obote) was still in power".
25:
369:, 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. 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. In 1972, Oyite-Ojok took part in a
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445:(UNLF) which ruled the country after Idi Amin's overthrow. 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. He remained loyal to Obote who was preparing to return from exile. The alliance of political forces in the UNLF under President
530:'s Uganda Freedom Movement (UFM) which were fighting to overthrow Obote's government. With his military experience during the struggle to overthrow Idi Amin, Oyite Ojok proved very effective against these groups. However this was done with both military tact and brutality against the population in areas where the guerrilla forces operated. This was most prevalent in the
542:, the army and secret police carried out numerous random arrests which often involved arresting hundreds of people and loading them onto trucks which were then driven to army barracks. This phenomenon was called "Panda Gari" ("Climb the Truck") and it instilled widespread fear in the capital as many of those taken to army barracks were beaten or killed.
467:) and forced him into exile in 1966. It is widely believed that it was this opposition to Obote's return and the growing influence of the northern dominated army that led to the removal of Yusuf Lule from the Presidency after only 2 months in office. Lule had also tried to extend his very limited presidential powers in the UNLF.
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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. He ensured that the national army under his command was overwhelmingly made up of
Northerners, such as
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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
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was out of the country serving as the
Ugandan representative at the funeral of President Nasser of Egypt, Obote appointed a new Chief of Defence Staff (Brigadier Suleman Hussein). Oyite-Ojok was one of President Obote's most important followers in the military, and was described by Omara-Otunnu as
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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
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who was seen as more of a figurehead. Real power now lay with Oyite Ojok and the
Military Commission. The UNLF became more militaristic in appearance as army officers like Ojok became actively involved in politics, and the quasi-legislative National Commission and government ministers became less
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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
515:. 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
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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
406:(UNLA) battalion in March 1979. With the latter unit, he fought alongside the Tanzanians in central and eastern Uganda. Oyite-Ojok proved to be tactically adept during this conflict. He eventually rose to chief of staff for the entire UNLA.
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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.
395:'s outbreak. Oyite-Ojok assumed a key role in the grouping of military exiles who, with the backing of Tanzanian troops, led the counteroffensive which resulted in the overthrow of Amin. At first, he served as field commander for Obote's
565:, 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.
345:'Obote's principal military confidant' was appointed to the '..newly created post of Assistant Military Secretary in the Ministry of Defence,' serving as a Major. His duties included '..planning, all policy matters, and control of
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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. Meanwhile, Oyite-Ojok also organized his personal
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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
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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
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party and Obote, who was still in
Tanzanian exile. Obote's possible return was opposed by many within the UNLF, particularly those from Buganda who recalled that it was Obote who had dethroned their King (the
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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
340:'s orders. However at the end of February 1966 he was transferred to Army Headquarters and made Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General. In September 1970, while
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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".
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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.
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argued that this "was the game as saw and played it". Despite being an ethnic Lango, Oyite Ojok managed to gain the support of many traditionally marginalised
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377:. However, the operation resulted in a major rebel defeat. After this failure, Obote reorganized his remaining forces; he mobilized a "navy" of six boats on
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significant. On the ground the army became more brutal, particularly in Buganda and other areas of Southern Uganda. Most significantly, the
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where the UFM was based. In Luwero, thousands of civilians were killed by the army – especially in an area called the 'Luwero Triangle'. In
503:. Oyite-Ojok campaigned on behalf of Obote, using his status as "legendary commander" to rally northerners to his cause. Firmly rooted in
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Omii Omara-Otunnu, Politics and the Military in Uganda 1890–1985, p. 75, citing General and Administrative Order 9/1966.
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288:(15 April 1940 – 2 December 1983) was a Ugandan military officer who held a leadership position in the coalition of
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Despite having fought against Museveni, Oyite-Ojok has been honored by the latter's government as a national hero.
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507:, the officer believed that the elections would decide which ethnic group controlled Uganda's wealth. Researcher
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in 1979 and, until his death in a helicopter crash, served as the national army chief of staff with the rank of
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As Army Chief of Staff, Oyite-Ojok was responsible for attempting to defeat the guerrilla armies of Museveni's
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Oyite-Ojok's reputation grew immensely during the Uganda–Tanzania War. Some people, including
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Uganda: The Bloodstained Pearl of Africa and Its Struggle for Peace. From the Pages of Drum
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The Presidential Commission now paved the way for the return of Obote and organised what a
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tribe) who for the first time since 1964 had significant political and military influence.
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On 2 December 1983, Oyite-Ojok died in a helicopter crash in Nakitoma Sub-county, part of
8:
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366:
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Tindigarukayo, Jimmy K. (December 1988). "Uganda, 1979–85: Leadership in Transition".
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with its military allies began to actively organise and call for the return of Obote.
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336:. He was transferred from 1st Battalion to 4th Battalion on 7 February 1966 at
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himself. The political symbol for most of those from Northern Uganda was the
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in 1963. By 1965, he was teaching a training course for officer cadets in
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830:"Obote, Museveni blame each other for failed 1972 invasion of Uganda"
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Crisis of Legitimacy and Political Violence in Uganda, 1890 to 1979
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Child to Soldier: Stories from Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army
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District where the NRA was active and in the capital city,
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943:"Revisiting Gen Oyite Ojok 1983 helicopter crash site"
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Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in Uganda
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857:"Uganda Invaders reported halted by Amin's troops"
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1136:Military personnel of the Uganda–Tanzania War
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1146:Victims of helicopter accidents or incidents
984:. Dar es Salaam: Tanzania Publishing House.
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561:. The NRA claimed that it had shot down his
413:, attributed the Tanzanian victories in the
642:"Oyite Ojok, one of Uganda's best soldiers"
360:—Oyite-Ojok on the overthrow of Amin, 1979
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1001:Wars and Insurgencies of Uganda 1971–1994
999:Cooper, Tom; Fontanellaz, Adrien (2015).
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69:Learn how and when to remove this message
1060:. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
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32:This article includes a list of general
550:(Obote and Oyite Ojok's tribe) and the
429:Oyite Ojok became a member, along with
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982:War in Uganda: The Legacy of Idi Amin
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745:The Journal of Modern African Studies
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855:Mohr, Charles (19 September 1972).
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38:it lacks sufficient corresponding
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501:general election in December 1980
1039:. Kampala: Fountain Publishers.
1007:: Helion & Company Limited.
443:Uganda National Liberation Front
296:which removed military dictator
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23:
1024:"The End of Uganda's Nightmare"
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404:Uganda National Liberation Army
391:in late 1978, resulting in the
294:Tanzania People's Defence Force
290:Uganda National Liberation Army
1141:People of the Ugandan Bush War
1030:. No. 93. pp. 10–16.
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685:"What killed Gen. Oyite-Ojok?"
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402:, and was appointed head of a
365:By 1971, Oyite-Ojok served as
1:
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906:Cooper & Fontanellaz 2015
470:Lule was replaced by another
199:(Obote government; from 1979)
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524:National Resistance Movement
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1035:Seftel, Adam, ed. (2010) .
1022:Matatu, Gordon (May 1979).
308:Military career before 1979
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1111:Ugandan military personnel
16:Ugandan military commander
757:10.1017/s0022278x00015408
316:, Oyite Ojok was born in
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882:Avirgan & Honey 1983
519:against the government.
371:rebel invasion of Uganda
179:Ugandan rebels loyal to
1075:Otunnu, Ogenga (2016).
721:Omara-Otunnu, 1987, 89.
481:Uganda Peoples Congress
460:Uganda Peoples Congress
254:1972 invasion of Uganda
53:more precise citations.
495:Return of Milton Obote
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328:Oyite-Ojok joined the
132:Protectorate of Uganda
1054:Oloya, Opiyo (2013).
947:The Observer - Uganda
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325:'s first government.
232:Years of service
147:Nakitoma Sub-county,
576:Bazilio Olara-Okello
559:Nakasongola District
149:Nakasongola District
920:, pp. 319–320.
836:. 14 September 2019
819:, pp. 275–276.
691:. 14 September 2020
421:to his leadership.
393:Uganda–Tanzania War
258:Uganda–Tanzania War
1083:Palgrave Macmillan
949:. 13 December 2022
861:The New York Times
367:lieutenant colonel
99:Oyite-Ojok in 1981
1092:978-3-319-33155-3
1067:978-1-4426-1417-8
1046:978-9970-02-036-2
1014:978-1-910294-55-0
991:978-9976-1-0056-3
932:, pp. 39–40.
648:. 8 February 2012
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143:(1983-12-01)
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1116:1940 births
1081:. Chicago:
918:Otunnu 2016
894:Otunnu 2016
867:18 February
863:. p. 1
817:Seftel 2010
805:Matatu 1979
793:Seftel 2010
731:Otunnu 2016
652:13 November
602:Seftel 2010
574:candidate,
509:Opiyo Oloya
489:death squad
439:Tito Okello
411:Tito Okello
386:Uganda Army
330:Uganda Army
226:(from 1979)
221:(1971–1979)
214:(1963–1971)
211:Uganda Army
184:(1971–1979)
169:(1963–1971)
110:Lion of War
105:Nickname(s)
51:introducing
1105:Categories
966:References
930:Oloya 2013
695:16 January
672:Oloya 2013
646:New Vision
526:(NRA) and
447:Yusuf Lule
312:An ethnic
155:Allegiance
121:1940-04-15
34:references
773:155043183
765:0022-278X
586:Citations
569:Aftermath
235:1963–1983
1005:Solihull
980:(1983).
840:24 April
563:Bell 412
417:and the
342:Idi Amin
298:Idi Amin
205:Service/
689:Monitor
579:later.
540:Kampala
536:Kampala
472:Muganda
452:Buganda
47:improve
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1028:Africa
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988:
771:
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769:S2CID
548:Langi
334:Jinja
314:Lango
224:UNLA
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869:2020
842:2021
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