Northern Uganda lost another great son

Resident Commissioner for Gulu District, in Northern Uganda, Col. Walter Ochora, died at International Hospital Kampala on Thursday, as a result of a lung condition and respiratory problems, explained Dr. Ian Clarke.

According to the President General of Democratic Party (DP) Norbert Mao, “Col. Walter Ochora was among the few people in the National Resistance Movement with a heart for peace, development and unity whose administrative skills would be greatly missed.” Mao also lamented that Ochora has died at the time ..."when the country wanted him most... he was undoubtedly one of the country’s heavyweights."concluded Mao.

COL. Walter Ochora Odoch was born on February 3, 1957. He went to St. Joseph Layibi College where he studied from senior and completed six in 1972.

After secondary education he joined Munduli national army leadership school in Tanzania in 1981, from where he graduated as a second lieutenant.

He served in the UNLA from 1982 to 1985 under Col. Eric Odwar as a senior commander. Ochora announced the fall of the Milton Obote II government in 1985 after the troops loyal to Tito Okello and Bazilio Okello captured the city. He served under Tito Okello Lutwa’s government as senior commander from 1985-1986.

Ochora was one of the senior army officers who commanded a rebel UPDA brigade together with Odong Latek in 1986. A year later in 1987 he was a key figure in Acholi peace talks which resulted in the signing of the peace agreement between NRA and the UPDA.

Ochora was later absorbed into the NRA and was appointed a brigade commander. He was involved in the operations to pacify northern Uganda, Teso, Mbarara and Kasese in western Uganda.

In 1996 he was elected Gulu district chairman until 2006 when he was defeated by DP’s Norbert Mao. He was then appointed Gulu RDC, until 2010 to seek re-election as Gulu LC5 chairman but was defeated by FDC’s Martin Ojara Mapenduzi.

Ochora is among Acholi leaders (religious and cultural) who played a cardinal role in the process of restoring peace in the region.

He was part of the team that met LRA leader Joseph Kony in the jungles of Garamba in the DR Congo in pursuance of peace. He retired from the army four years ago after serving for 25 years. Recently he graduated with a degree in development studies at Gulu
University.

Two weeks ago after his defeat in the Gulu district race, Ochora said he would retire from politics. He convened a press conference at his home and said he had wanted to serve the people of Gulu this time for the last term, but failed.

“I will not continue with politics now. I had wanted to serve for one more last term and retire from politics, but I failed. I want to concentrate on studying for my masters degree and commercial farming among other private projects. I will only accept presidential appointments within the country,” he said.

Ochora’s favourite lifetime story was of the 1985 events when he served as president for three days after the overthrow of Obote II. He said the top commanders left him stranded with power. He was writing a book about this.

-------------------------

-------------------------