Justine Odong LatekCommonly referred to simply as Odong Latek. Tim Allen, "Understanding Alice: Uganda's Holy Spirit Movement in Context" Africa: Journal of the International African Institute, Vol. 61, No. 3, Diviners, Seers and Prophets in Eastern Africa (1991), pp. 370-399 refers to him as ''Justin'', while sources referring to him as ''Justine'' include Richard M. Kavuma,
Ghosts from Nairobi 1985 haunt Museveni in Acholi
", The Monitor, 28 March 2004 and Lamwaka, Caroline
"The peace process in northern Uganda 1986-1990"
in Okello Lucima, ed.
''Accord magazine: Protracted conflict, elusive peace: Initiatives to end the violence in northern Uganda''
, 2002. Given that English language names are often of secondary importance, the use of a normally feminine given name is not inconceivable. was a Ugandan brigadier who served in the

Uganda National Liberation Army The Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF) was a political group formed by exiled Ugandans opposed to the rule of Idi Amin with an accompanying military wing, the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA). UNLA fought alongside Tanzanian forces in ...

(UNLA) during the Ugandan Bush War and later led the Uganda People's Democratic Army (UPDA) during the 1986–1994 war in Uganda.

Biography

Odong Latek was a veteran of

Kikosi Maalum Kikosi Maalum (meaning "Special Force" in Swahili), also known as the Special Battalion or the grand coalition, was a militia of Ugandan exiles formed in Tanzania to fight against the regime of Idi Amin. The unit was founded by and loyal to forme ...

who continued his military service with the UNLA following the Uganda–Tanzania War. He rose to captain until President Milton Obote was overthrown by parts of the UNLA in the

1985 Ugandan coup d'état Apollo Milton Obote (28 December 1925 – 10 October 2005) was a Ugandan political leader who led Uganda to independence from British colonial rule in 1962. Following the nation's independence, he served as prime minister of Uganda from 1962 to ...

. Under the new President

Tito Okello Tito Lutwa Okello (1914 – 3 June 1996) was a Ugandan military officer and politician. He was the eighth president of Uganda from 29 July 1985 until 26 January 1986. Background Tito Okello was born into an ethnic Acholi family in circa 1914 ...

, Odong Latek was promoted to brigadier and put in charge of Gulu. Following the victory of Yoweri Museveni's National Resistance Army (NRA) and the collapse of Okello's regime in 1986, Latek formed the UPDA. On 16 August 1986, the UPDA began attacks upon NRA units in

Acholiland The Acholi people (also spelled Acoli) are a Nilotic ethnic group of Luo peoples (also spelled Lwo), found in Magwi County in South Sudan and Northern Uganda (an area commonly referred to as Acholiland), including the districts of Agago, Amuru, ...

. However, the UPDA was unable to wrest control of the population centers from the NRA. Following a 21 March 1987 meeting with the NRA, General Salim Saleh flew to the UPDA base and met with Latek, who is reported to have stated his support for the peace agreement. However, in May the UPDA replaced Latek with

Angelo Okello Angelo is an Italian masculine given name and surname meaning "angel", or "messenger". People People with the given name *Angelo Accattino (born 1966), Italian prelate of the Catholic Church *Angelo Acciaioli (bishop) (1298–1357), Italian Ro ...

, who had been commander of the UPDA Division One in Gulu. Okello signed a peace agreement on 3 June 1988.Kavuma, op. cit. A 1997 report states that Latek and several UPDA units loyal to him did not take place in the peace talks on the advice of the UPDA political wing in London.The Anguish of Northern Uganda
Government of USA, 2 October 1997 Latek and his followers then joined the Lord's Resistance Army to continue fighting. According to the recollection of a captured LRA commander, in September 1987 Latek met with LRA leader Joseph Kony, who appointed Latek overall military commander.After the Last Fight
,

New Vision The ''New Vision'' is a Ugandan English-language newspaper published daily in print form and online. Overview ''New Vision'' is one of two main national English-language newspapers in Uganda, the other being the ''Daily Monitor''. It is publi ...

, 25 November 2004 According to a former close confidant of Kony, however, Odong Latek and a group of his followers were relaxing in a secluded part of Kitgum District when they were surprised by Kony's forces. They were rounded up, whereupon Kony assured the ex-UPDA fighters that they would not be harmed. Odong Latek was then "invited" to join Kony's force. In November 1989, Odong Latek was killed when the NRA stormed a rebel camp at Pawic in Palabek County, Lamwo District.

References

Works cited

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Odong Latek, Justine 1989 deaths Ugandan military personnel Lord's Resistance Army rebels Year of birth missing