JOEL HUNTER LANGO ICON OF PEACE PASSES ON

By News room

Leaders in Lango sub region are mourning the demise of Mzee Joel Hunter Wacha Olwol,a former member of the 1980 Presidential Commission of Uganda who passed in the morning of May 2^nd at Kadic Hospital aged 93.

Many in Lango, describe Mzee Wacha-Olwol as an icon of peace and a hero. Former Moroto county Member of Parliament Benson Obua Ogwal describes Wacha-Olwol as was one of the truly noble people who ever lived in this nation. He applauded the deceased for fighting his race and ending it like a hero whose legacy he says must be emulated by leaders in the region.

Former Minister in charge of Northern Uganda and now Uganda’s Ambassador to Addis Ababa, Rebbeca Amuge Otengo,  says Wacha-Olwol left a strong legacy that must be respected and honoured by all Ugandans.

Wacha-Olwol started out his career as a teacher at a rehabilitation centre in Lira, before joining the then Lango African Local Government at the beginning of 1953 as a clerk to the Lango District council. After his studies in the United Kingdom from where he graduated with a Diploma in Social and Public Administration, he was appointed the district council secretary.

He was later elected on the delegation from Lango that attended the two constitution conferences in London that paved the way for Uganda’s Independence in 1962.

Wacha-Olwol went into private business in Lira Town until 1977 when he ran into exile following the death of Archbishop Luwum .

After president Godfrey Binaisa was overthrown by the military headed by Paul Muwanga and deputised by Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the military was forced to form an interim government involving three presidents including Wacha , Saulo Musoke and Nyamuconco , judges of the High Court and Court of Appeal respectively ruling Uganda for eight months.

Government has accepted to accord Mzee Wacha Olwol a state burial According to a notice from the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah from the Prime Minister’s office.

The body of Mzee Olwol is scheduled to lie in State at Parliament on Friday while the final burial program will be decided in a meeting in the office of the PM and leaders from Lango.