Bazilio Olara-Okello

Bazilio Olara-Okello (1929 9 January 1990) was a Ugandan military officer and one of the commanders of the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) that together with the Tanzanian army organized the coup d'état that 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.

Bazilio Olara-Okello
7th President of Uganda
In office
27 July 1985  29 July 1985
Preceded byMilton Obote
Succeeded byTito Okello
Personal details
Born
Bazilio Olara-Okello

1929
Died9 January 1990(1990-01-09) (aged 60–61)
Military service
Allegiance British Empire
 Uganda
Branch/serviceBritish Army
Uganda Army
Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA)
Years of service1950–1962 (British Empire)
1962–1971 (Uganda Army)
1979–1986 (UNLA)
RankLieutenant general
UnitUganda Army
Uganda National Liberation Army
Battles/warsEast African Campaign
1972 invasion of Uganda
Uganda–Tanzania War
Ugandan Bush War

During the 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.

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