By Samuel Oduny
On 1st June 1966, Daudi Ocheng passed on at Mulago Hospital in Kampala. His demise left a big hole in the politics of Uganda.
Daudi Ochieng was the son of Rwot Laceto Okech of Koch Temajo. His mother Juliana Auma was from Patiko Pukwinyi, and was born in 1925.
Ochieng and Auma met while he worked as the County Chief of Kilak County after the Lamogi Rebellion of 1911.
Laceto Okech the father of Daudi Ochieng went to Buganda to open the newly constructed Namirembe Cathedral in 1919. During that occasion, he met the then Kabaka of Buganda, Daudi Chua. The Kabaka was impressed with the way Laceto Okech spoke Luganda, Kiswahili, Nubian and English. The two became friends.
When Ocheng was born and time came for him to begin school, his father Laceto Okech sent him to Kabaka Chua. During his baptism Ochieng was given the name Daudi, the name of Kabaka of Buganda at that time. The Kabaka himself was a witness of the baptism Ochieng.
Daudi Ochieng went to Budo with the son of Kabaka Chua, Prince Edward Mutesa. The two became intimate friends during their time in Budo primary, Budo Junior and later Kings College Budo. Ocheng was an excelled student. He emerged best in the country in the Cambridge School Certificate Examination getting a distinction in Luganda, defeating many Baganda students.
Ocheng later joined Makerere University for Diploma in Agriculture. After completing Makerere University he was employed in Namolonge Research Centre. In 1955 he was offered scholarship to go to United Kingdom in the University of Aberythwy to study Agricultural Economics.
During the climax of political struggle for Independence in 1958, Daudi Ocheng returned to Uganda. He continued to be very close to the Kingdom of Buganda. The general election was held in 1961. The Democratic Party led by Ben Kiwanuka defeated the Uganda Peoples Congress. Kiwanuka became the Chief Minister with self-Government given to Uganda.
The colonial government was not content with the General Election in 1961. It summoned all political party leaders to London to consider the date for the Independence of Uganda, and also to prepare the constitution of Uganda before independence.
During the conference in London, a surprise announcement was made that a new political party was formed called Kabaka Yekka, and was going to make an alliance with UPC. This was after it was resolved that Uganda was going to be given Independence on the 9th October 1962. But before that there should be another General Election on April 1962. This was a big disappointment to the Democratic Party which had won 1961 elections. The DP walked out of the meeting. A resolution was made at the London meeting that any Member of Parliament standing in Buganda should be under the ticket of KY- UPC- KY. UPC- KY defeated the DP and Ben Kiwanuka did not even get a constituency because he defied KY. Ochieng contributed to the victory of UPC –KY.
Congo Ivory & Gold
On the 4th February 1966 Daudi Ocheng moved a motion in the then Uganda Parliament alleging that the then Deputy Army Commander Colonel Idi Amin looted Ivory and gold from Congo during a clash between Uganda Army and the Army of Moise Tshombe, the leader of the Katanga Province in the Eastern Congo in 1965.
The motion was very controversial and shook the UPC Government up to a point of vote of no confidence in the Government. The allegation of the gold issue Ocheng alleged implicated the Prime Minister Apollo Milton Obote and his Defence Minister Felix Minister. During the hot debate in Parliament, the UPC Government arrested five Minister who were thought to have been behind the allegation brought forward by Daudi Ocheng. These Ministers were Grace Ibingira, Dr. Emmanuel Lumu, Balaki Kirya, Mathais Ngobi, and George Magezi.
Ocheng disclosed to Uganda Parliament the account numbers of Banks inside and outside Uganda where Amin deposited a lot of money. Parliament under the Speakership of Narenda Patel resolved for a commission of inquiry into the gold allegation.
The motion came after a referendum in 1964 which handed over the counties from Buganda to Bunyoro. This brought a lot of tension between the central Government and Buganda Government.
Ocheng courageous move to Lira for KY
In spite of the motion raised in Parliament, Daudi Ocheng courageously travelled to Lira, the home town of the Prime Minister Dr. Milton Obote to address a rally for Kabaka Yekka. From there Ocheng was arrested and kept in Lira Police Custody without food for one week. It was speculated that Amin was sighted in Lira Town driving a BMW car. What he went to do in Lira, nobody knew.
After the release of Ocheng from Lira Police custody, he began feeling abdominal pain. He was then flown abroad for treatment. After he returned from abroad he Ocheng started feeling sickly again. He was admitted at Mulago Hospital for treatment. On the 24th May 1966, the Kingdom of Buganda was attacked by Uganda Army commanded by Colonel Idi Amin. Six days after Lubiri Palace was attacked, Daudi Ocheng died in Mulago Hospital.
Daudi Ocheng should be declared a hero because of his contribution to Uganda.
The writer was 16 years old during the 1966 crisis and was resident in Gulu
1 Comment
Very moving account. We, who were not there, have a lesson to learn. Continue pieces like this.