The Paramount Chief of Acholi, Rwot David Onen Acana II, has rallied his subjects to celebrate the retirement of Lt Gen Charles Otema Awany from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). Gen Otema Awany, who has served in various capacities in the UPDF, including his latest assignment as Commander of the UPDF Reserve Forces, is due to retire this week.
A major homecoming celebration scheduled for August 28 has been organised at Kaunda Parade Ground in Gulu City with Acholi Cultural Institution involved in the preparation.
Speaking at his palace in Gulu City on Monday, Rwot Acana described Gen Otema as a key figure in efforts to restore peace in Northern Uganda and an advocate for the interests of the Acholi people before the government.
Rwot Acana said Gen Otema’s return home alive after decades of military service is worth celebrating, said several officers from the region who served in senior military ranks didn’t survive to return home.
“Most of the time, our children who were in the army in the past and held ranks like Gen Otema never returned home alive. Now that Gen Otema is retiring and returning home alive, I believe it should be a pride for everyone in the Acholi Sub-region,” Rwot Acana said.
He said Gen Otema had touched the lives of many people directly and indirectly and called on the Acholi people to welcome and celebrate their son.
Rwot Acana also commended Gen Otema for involving the Acholi Cultural Institution in organising his homecoming before settling into retirement.
Dr Gilbert Olanya, the Kilak South Member of Parliament, said Gen Otema sacrificed his life during the Lord’s Resistance Army insurgency and fought to restore peace in Acholi and Northern Uganda.
“I want to laud Gen Otema for what he did for the Acholi, Uganda and East Africa in general. During the Lord’s Resistance Army insurgency, when gunshots rang out regularly, people never slept in their houses,” Olanya said. “But Gen Otema stood firm until peace returned to Acholi.”
Olanya urged people in the Acholi Sub-region to welcome Gen Otema with pride, noting that he was returning home alive and in good health after years of military service.
Gen Otema’s retirement comes nearly two years after he had sought to leave the army earlier, with his sights reportedly set on elective politics.
In January 2024, Gen Otema launched a major political consultation drive in Bardege-Layibi Division were had shown interest in the Bardege-Layibi Parliamentary seat. Gen Otema previously served as Commander of the UPDF’s Fourth Infantry Division during the LRA insurgency in Northern Uganda and later as Chief of Logistics and Engineering among others-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
