Tito Okello

Tito Lutwa Okello (15 October 1914 – 3 June 1996) was a Ugandan military officer and politician who served as the president of Uganda from 29 July 1985 until 26 January 1986.

Background Tito Okello was born into an ethnic Acholi family in circa 1914 in Namokora, Kitgum District.

He joined the King's African Rifles in 1940 and served in the East African Campaign of World War II. As a career military officer, he had a variety of assignments.

As a follower of President Milton Obote, Okello went into exile following the 1971 coup d'état that resulted in Idi Amin becoming Uganda's new ruler. In 1972, rebels invaded Uganda to restore Obote. Okello was one of the leaders of an insurgent group which targeted Masaka. The invasion was defeated by loyalist Uganda Army troops.

Final years Okello remained in exile until 1993, when he was granted amnesty by President Museveni and returned to Kampala. He died three years later on 3 June 1996, at the age of 81. He was buried at his ancestral home in Kitgum District, Namokora subcounty.

Legacy and honours In January 2010, Okello was posthumously awarded the Kagera National Medal of Honour for fighting against the Idi Amin dictatorship in the 1970s.