For ten years, Komakech Charles Gatete swam in the murky waters of politics in his home district of Agago. He had hoped to go a step further to Agago in the national parliament. But that was not to be. Komakech Charles Gatete is dead. He died on Thursday November 12, 2015 at Mulago hospital from internal bleeding caused by an accident he was involved in on October 25, 2015.
At the time of the accident, he was traversing for votes in the primaries of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party. He was contesting with nine others in the NRM primaries for the Agago MP race.
Gatete was 43.
He passed away from Mulago Hospital where he had been in comma for five days, following a referral from St Mary’s Hospital Lacor.
According to his brother Patrick Bwoch, the doctors found discovered that the injury suffered on the head caused a bloot clot.
Mika Okidi, the chairperson of the NRM in Lira Palwo Sub County said Gatete was a young man who wanted to have a positive impact in the community that he had served in various capacities.
“For a man who was working in an International NGO to abandon his job to become a local councilor, it shows he had a desire for change in the community,’’ said Okidi.
‘‘The NRM party and the people of Lira Palwo and Agago as a whole will miss the charismatic leadership of Gatete,” Okidi added.
Gatete was councilor for Lira Palwo Sub County in Pader district local council before the creation of Agago. In 2011, he contested for Agago MP seat as an independent candidate and lost to Okot John Amos.
Last month, he contested to become the NRM flag-bearer in a controversial election that saw David Lagen declared winner amidst protests from other candidates.
He was involved in the accident which eventually claimed his life on the eve of NRM primary elections.
Komakech Gatete was son of retired teacher Raphael Onyuka. He studied in Lira Palwo Secondary School for his O’level, and then went to Dr. Obote College Boroboro in Lira for A’level.
He later pursued a Bachelor degree in Business Administration and qualified as an accountant.
The late Gatete is survived by 2 wives and over six children.
He will be buried on Monday today, November 16, 2015 in Lamiyo Sub County, Agago district.
By David Labeja
