Ugandan minister Charles Okello Engola shot and killed by his bodyguard

Uganda’s State Minister for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, Col (rtd) Charles Okello Engola is dead.

The minister was shot dead this morning (Tuesday 2nd May 2023) at his home in Kyanja, Kampala, the capital of Uganda.

Ugandan police spokesperson, Fred Enanga while briefing press said the minister’s aide-de-camp Ronald Otim also sustained severe injuries and was rushed to Mulago hospital for treatment.

He also revealed that the shooter was identified as private Wilson Sabiiti.

“He (Engola) was shot at his residence in Kyanja by one of his bodyguards who allegedly fired several shots at close range. He fled from the scene up to the trading centre at Kyanja, Ring Road where he entered a salon and also shot himself dead,”

An eyewitness claimed that the bodyguard complained that the late minister owed him several months of unpaid salary as he shot in the air to warn civilians at Kyanja town, moments before turning the gun at himself.

“The guard said he hadn’t been paid Ush4 million (about $1,000). He said he had a pregnant woman and his children were not going to school yet the minister’s children were schooling”.

However, Ugandan Gender and Labour Minister Betty Amongi while briefing journalists said Sabiiti “was a new bodyguard.”

“He has been working as his bodyguard for a month. He came from Bombo and joined other security guards assigned to the minister from the Ministry of Gender ad Labour,” Ms Amongi said.

Meanwhile, Police spokesperson, Mr Enanga, said it was too early to confirm the motive of the shooting.

“The investigation is currently in the early stages of review…We don’t want to speculate into the motive of the shooting until we have confirmed”.

Charles Okello Engola was on his way to attend a Cabinet sitting when he was shot, according to Uganda’s Minister of ICT and national guidance, Chris Baryomunsi.

*This is a developing story.