Alebtong, Uganda: The second widow of the late Field Marshal John Gidion Okello has passed away. Erin Akao, an 80-year-old widow, was born on April 3, 1944, and died on January 30, 2024, at her ancestral home in Okut village, Alebtong parish, Aloi sub-county, Alebtong district.
According to one of the biological sons, Anyeko Bernard Masanga, widow Erin succumbed to high blood pressure and ulcers. Bernard Anyeko confirmed to our reporter that she suffered from a long illness and was sick for about 5 years.
Due to financial constraints, the family took her to several clinics in Alebtong, Lira, among other areas within their reach, but all was in vain since they were unable to raise a sufficient amount of money to treat her illness.
John Gidion Okello, known as a highly esteemed soldier in Zanzibar, had nine biological children. Four of the children passed away, and now five of them are still alive. Anyeko Masanga added that one of the widows of their late father died some time ago (Masanga’s biological mother).
Anyeko Bernard Masanga said a budget of over 11.9 million shillings is required for burial expenses and feeding mourners. However, as of now, they only have less than one million UGX at hand for the burial of Imat Erin. He narrated that the family is struggling without any assistance from the government, although the burial is scheduled for Monday.
“Our father has done a lot, and somebody is blocking our money from H.E the president after a clear directive was given by the president and had been put left and right.”
On June 14, 2023, His Excellency the president of the Republic of Uganda, Gen. Yoweri Museveni Kaguta, wrote a letter showing his commitment to assist the family. A copy has been seen by our publication.
To his dismay, after receiving the letter, Anyeko said some people who are not biological sons of the late Gidion Okello are blocking them from accessing the assistance offered by the president.
“Let what belongs to Mzee Field Marshal John Gidion Okello be us who are the biological children, but there are people who are masquerading as relatives of Okello when us, the real biological children, are there. You can imagine,” fumed Anyeko.
He blamed some high-profile persons for blocking their ways and threatened to reveal some secrets to the Head of State very soon if non-biological children of the deceased continue to block them from benefiting from the president’s assistance.
In other words, out of nine children, five (5) remain alive, comprising 3 girls and 2 boys. Bernard Masanga Anyeko and Onyok Moses are the only biological boys that the family knows and nobody else. Others are; Akello Grace, Achola Anna, and Harriet Atim, who are known biological daughters of Okello by birth and by DNA if need be.
The burial will take place on Monday at 10:00 AM at her ancestral home in Aloi, Alebtong district.
