Parliament has this morning received the body of slain former state minister for Labour, Col (rtd) Charles Okello Engola for MPs to pay their last respects.
A dark cloud of grief hovered over the House as the former Oyam North MP’s body was being received by Speaker Anita Among shortly after 10am before proceeding to sign a condolence book.
The casket containing the body was afterwards placed at the center of Parliament’s South Wing lobby.
Speaker Among then proceeded to pay her last respects by proceeding to view the body and bowing her head, a move that was repeated by other legislators and family members present in the lobby.
Most of them wore black, a color often worn during periods of mourning.
Some legislators, in the process uncontrollably broke down into tears and were inconsolable.
The body will continue laying in the lobby ahead of the 2pm special sitting where legislators will pay tribute to the former minister who was shot and killed by one of his bodyguards, Pte Wilson Sabiiti.
The shooting happened last Tuesday at the minister’s home in Kyanja zone, a Kampala suburb. Pte Sabiiti later turned the gun on himself and committed suicide.
A requiem mass will be held at Kololo Independence grounds tomorrow for the late minister, with President Museveni expected to be the chief mourner.
On Thursday, the body will be airlifted to Oyam District ahead of his burial on Saturday.
