The body of former army officer Brig Johnson Lupaka Langoya who died from the United Kingdom on August 6 arrived in Uganda yesterday aboard Emirates Air.
The cause of death was organ failure. He was 82.
The late Langoya was born in 1934 to Mzee Albert Omal and Mama Salume Atim of Olar-Kom, Dec in Padibe Sub County, Lamwo District. He was the second born in a family of nine.
He started his primary school education in 1942 at Padibe Church Missionary Society Primary School. But for three years, his education was interrupted by ill health. In 1946, he resumed his studies at Lamit Church Missionary School.
On completing primary education, the late Langoya began his Junior Secondary School in 1956 at Daudi Chwa II Memorial College Kasubi Namungona, along Kampala Hoima road.
In 1958, while in Junior Three he stopped his education due to financial contrasts and joined the army.
The late Brig Langoya served in various capacities in army (colonial and post-independence) rising to the rank of Brigadier in the Uganda Peoples Liberation Front Army (UNLA) under the Gen Tito Okello government.
Those who knew him describe the late army officer as a ‘‘humble, polite and orderly’’ man. He has also been described as ‘‘a freedom fighter, liberator, administrator and a servant of God.’’
In the United Kingdom, the late Langoya dedicated his life to Missionary work. He was baptized and converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints on 21st August 1988 and confirmed as a member of the Church at Mitcham Ward.
A service was held in his memory in Kampala today. He will be laid to rest at his ancestral home in Padibe, Lamwo district on Saturday.
Editor’s Note: read the late Brig Langoya’s summarised life story in our perspective’s section
1 Comment
RIP Brig Langoya! But this man was the biggest coward in UNLA after Tito Okello Lutwa, and I fail to understand how they could have risen to those high rank, moreover they were very illeterate and may Sergeant should have been their highest rank, for they were not worth more. I remember the fear he had on his face before NRA took over Kampala. How he dissapeared heaven knows, then I met him in Gulu at Acholi Inn, he was shivering like no ones business, and took off to Kitgum, and did not even help to defend Karuma, like the good Dr Kweya, who had no military fighting training but had to be dragged from the front line, when all was lost. These are the cowards who finished the Acholi, eating big when there are in power, but when the shit hits the fan, the run to hide like women. All this praise you are heaping here is wolokoso, the truth should be told. The man sold a lot of miltitary ware to the enemy to fill his big belly, and not that ended up biting him and other innocent people. Acholi people know that people like Langoya, Lutwa are what have let you suffer, big cowards. If only we had two more Basilio Okellos things would be fine with the ACholi today.