Bazilio Olara-Okello: Difference between revisions

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'''Bazilio Olara-Okello''' (1929 – January 9, 1990) was a Ugandan military officer and one of the commanders of the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) that together with the Tanzanian army overthrew [[Idi Amin]] in 1979. In 1985, he was briefly the chairman of the ruling Military Council and ''de facto'' head of state of Uganda, and later, lieutenant-general and chief of the armed forces.

During the [[Ugandan Bush War|civil war in Uganda]] between the UNLA (which was now the national army) and [[Yoweri Museveni]]'s National Resistance Army, president [[Milton Obote]] alienated much of the Acholi-dominated officer corps, including Olara-Okello and General [[Tito Okello]], by appointing his fellow ethnic Lango, Brigadier Smith Opon Acak, as army Chief of Staff. On 27 July 1985, an army brigade of the UNLA commanded by Olara-Okello, and composed mostly of Acholi troops, staged a ''coup d'état'' against [[Milton Obote]]'s government and seized power. The National Assembly was dissolved and a Military Council was established. Between 27 and 29 July 1985, Olara-Okello was Chairman of the Military Council, and ''de facto'' head of state.

On 29 July, General [[Tito Okello]] replaced Olara-Okello as Chairman of the Military Council, and Olara-Okello was promoted from the rank of Brigadier to that of Lieutenant General, and named chief of the armed forces. He commanded the army until [[Yoweri Museveni]]'s National Resistance Army seized power on 26 January 1986. Olara-Okello fled to [[exile]] in Sudan, where he lived until he died in Omdurman Hospital in Khartoum on 9 January 1990.

[[Category:Anti-Semitic]]