{UAH} Could Gen Paul Lokech have Survived the Looming Political Transition?*

*Could Gen Paul Lokech have Survived the Looming Political Transition?* 

Given the ethos and  belief systems of Acholi people, those who are highly cultured and in high ranking political positions like Gen Paul Lokech could  not have survived the dynamism of existential Uganda Political Transition  System.  Uganda politic is  politics of survival rather than that of cohesion and  functional institutions. The Acholi cultural value systems give emphasis to hardwork, trust, honesty, truth, no corruption, pride, wisdom, reconciliation,  forgiveness, Justice, obedience, loyalty etc.  This in my view,  are value systems that can not work in the current Transitional Politics of Uganda.One of the most dangerous attributes/value systems God gave Acholi is; *Trust*-...sounds outrageous though. Acholi can trust any aquaintance who come his/her way and open up with all stories of Public and or of  Private nature. The Acholi sometimes feel very good for being the first source of  critical information and would not hesitate to share/divulge it without being critically mindful  of its repurcursion. Hence, this attribute of the Acholi people is too dangerous for survival in the modern day Uganda  

I first met Gen Lokech at a  Social Place in Kitgum District, Snow Line in early 1990s.  By that time,  he was already in the Army at the rank of Lieutenant. We immediately clicked and since then we have been very close to each other. As young men who were growing up during the height of the Northern Uganda conflict, there were few Acholi sons and daughters in NRA  whom we admired. The likes of Gen Fred Toolit who was at the time a Captain, Col Acellam who was Leutenant,  Brig Gen Richard  Otto Owilly aka Roko (rank  was not known) Lt Oryem Canogura, Lt Akili,  some of them have way long passed on. This was the time of the intense insurgency in Northern Uganda and Kitgum was completely cut off from the rest of the world. At the  time also, Gen Paul Lokech was little known as he mostly  operated from the side of Pader District. 

I  also  got to understand that Gen Paul Lokech at that time was a Graduate of Comboni College in Lira. My Colleagues at school and I  were all inspired by this tall slander young graciously humble man with *Nyota* on his shoulders that left some of us like  Col Nyero Felix, Col Isaac Ojwiyo, Col Biron, Col Kidega,  Major Kidega etc to join the Army. 

When I finished the University, in 1998, I joined Save the Children Denmark in 1999 as their Psychosocial Technical Officer in charge of Children. In the organisation I  was placed with Ms Sandra Oder my colleague to work with the military, especially for  Children  rescued by the UPDF and had a transition in the 4th Div Head Quarters, Gulu District. Ms. Sandra Oder, daughter to Justice Oder from Oboke who later befriended Col Paddy Ankunda who was then  4th Div Spokesperson was a very close aquaintance of Gen Paul Lokech.   

This was the second time I became closer to Gen Lokech.  As an organization, we developed a program that was targeting training of lower ranking  military men in Psychosocial Support but later also realized that  high ranking officers could benefit from the training.  We then organized for the similar training  in Sweden that saw the likes of Col.Paddy Ankunda, Gen Golooba, Gen Biraro,  Gen Paul Lokech,  Brig Achoka,  Col.Opiyo Obore, Brig Stephen Kashyaka, Gen Dick Olum,  Brig Jack Bakasumba, etc access training in Sweden in Stockholm-  SWIDINT college of civil -Military relations/, Peace Keeping operations. I later recommended  AIGP Fred Igga and the then Commissioner of Police, Minister, Judith Nabakooba to attend the course as well.

Later on,  my  association with  Gen Lokech  became of  a more friendly nature than work related because our communication and meetings were very frequent until his death. We shared with each other our past experience, family issues, challenges of life, politics, security,  cultural matters etc. I knew in all fairness, he listened to my advice as I also do the same with his.

Being someone who has  known him for over 3 decades, his demise gravely  devastated me emotionally.  For sure, Gen Lokech was a true son of the soil and very responsible man. He was a  steadfast patriot and brave soldier. Even if he was a  high ranking officer in the UPDF, he lived a very simple life in an extraordinary way. For nothing he achieved was inevitable  in the arc of his life. He earned a place in the History of Uganda through struggle, focus, commitment, shrewdness, persistence, and faith in his work.  

Because of the depth of his conviction to see his Country Peaceful and Democratic, Gen Lokech was iconic as an embodiment in the transformation of Uganda's political sad history.

However, being a cultured Acholi with a strong adherent to it's value Systems, Gen Lokech could not have  Survived the Transitional Politics of Survival of the Fittest in this Country.

Through all these memories, he will live on forever in our minds and hearts.

 **Questions that will remain unanswered about his death are:* 

1. Could Gen Lokech have been a victim of

the Mafia Group that have caused many loss of lives in the Police Force?

2. Could he have crossed some line he was not to ?

3. Is it about position struggle?

4. Could someone have taken advantage (scape-goat) of his  accident to fulfill his/her mission?

5. Blood clot really???

God help us all!! Rest In Peace General.

Okin PP Ojara, MP Chua West

Kitgum District...A very good friend to the deceased.

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