Democratic Party president Norbert Mao on Tuesday praised his late father Mzee Dusman Okee for his fatherliness, something he said contributed to shaping him into an outstanding political leader that he is today.
Mr Mao was addressing hundreds of mourners who thronged his ancestral home at Lacor trading centre, 6km from Gulu town, along the Gulu- Nimule road.
Mao said his father stood for truth telling without fear. “I copied the truth telling from him; it runs in our blood.”
Mzee Okee, 74, died from Jinja in the wee hours of Sunday morning. He had a history of hypertension and diabetes.
The late Okee’s body was laid to rest at his ancestral home on the same day he was born 74 years ago.
‘‘Today was supposed to be his 74th birthday,’’ said a somber Mao who quickly regained composure and took onto his humorous usual self.
Mao said his late father was a politician, a mentor, cereal chemist, soldier and a boxer.
‘‘He was a well-built man– a boxer. I am sure those who took punches from him felt it,’’ he joked, sending mourners into a thunderous laugh.
Mao was the eldest son of the late Okee. As he addressed mourners, his other brothers, East African Legislature Assembly Speaker, Dan Kidega and Dusman Okee Junior stood by him.
The DP president credited his father for teaching his children not to join politics for wealth but to offer leadership.
‘‘This is the course I have taken. I am sure that you have never heard that Mao stole money. You have also not heard that my brother Dan stole money.’’
He continued: ‘‘I have no visible wealth but there is wealth in me that can never be removed or taxed.’’
Mao also joked that his father was a rebel.
‘‘Aggrey Awori told me that my father was among a group of soldiers who put Minister Felix Onama at gun point and demanded for an increase in their salary.’’
Onama was a minister in Amin’s government.
Museveni praises Mao’s father, says he’s lost one vote
In a condolence message read by state Minister for Housing Sam Engola, who represented President Museveni as chief mourner, the president regretted Okee’s death saying the late was a strong supporter of the NRM.
Museveni said the death of Mzee Okee has cheated him off one vote in February 18th polls, stating that he knew very well the Okee would have voted NRM.
The president also contributed shs30 million as condolence for the bereaved family.
Many dignitaries from within and outside Uganda attended the burial ceremony for the late Mzee Okee.
Most notably amongst those who are attended included East African Legislative Assembly MPs where Mzee Okee’s son, Dan Kidega is speaker, Ugandan Members of parliament, Ralp Ocan, the Chair of the Public Service Commission, religious leaders, district leaders, representatives from the UPDF, among others.
President Kagame of Rwanda also sent his condolences which was read by a Burundian member of parliament in the EALA. EALA MPs contributed 20 million shillings as condolence.
Who was Okee?
Mzee Okee was born on January 5th 1942. He was a son of Lucepu Orach and Yunia Lakop both deceased. He attended St Joseph’s primary school, Alokulum Seminary before joining Namilyango College. He briefly went to Makerere University, but left ”mysteriously,” according to Mao, and the next they had of him, he had joined the army. The deceased worked with Uganda grain milling for thirty years before retiring to live in a private life in Bukaya, in Njeru town council.