Charles Oboth Ofumbi
Arphaxad Charles Kole Oboth Ofumbi (July 1932 – 16 February 1977) was a Ugandan Minister, serving as Interior Minister at the time of his death in 1977.[1] A member of the Jopadhola group, he had several children with his wife Elizabeth. His ancestral home is in Nyamalogo, Mulanda, in Tororo District.[2]
Charles Oboth Ofumbi | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Internal Affairs | |
| In office 12 October 1973 – 16 February 1977 | |
| President | Idi Amin |
| Preceded by | Lt. Col. Ernest Obitre Gama |
| Succeeded by | Mustafa Adrisi |
| Minister of Defence | |
| In office 2 February 1971 – 1973 | |
| President | Idi Amin |
| Acting President of Uganda | |
| In office February 1971 – February 1971 | |
| President | Idi Amin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Arphaxad Charles Kole Oboth Ofumbi July 1932 Nyamalogo, Mulanda, in Tororo District, in the Eastern Region, of Uganda |
| Died | 16 February 1977 Kampala, Uganda |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Oboth-Ofumbi |
| Children | Several |
| Alma mater | Mbarara High School, Kings College Budo |
| Occupation | Minister of Internal Affairs of Uganda, Politician |
| Profession | Politician |
Education
Oboth Ofumbi was educated at Mbarara High School and Kings College Budo. He went to primary school at Kisoko Primary School.[3]
Career
Having worked previously as a financial assistant in the district, Oboth Ofumbi was appointed District Commissioner for Bukedi District in Eastern Uganda in 1960. By 1963, he had moved from being a district administrator in Gulu to being the assistant secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister. Under the Government of Milton Obote he was successively a chief accountant in the Defence ministry, acting Defence Minister and finally Defence Minister (1971). A good relationship with Idi Amin ensured that Oboth Ofumbi kept the role following Amin's coup in January 1971, serving as Defence Minister until 1973.[4]
Death
Oboth Ofumbi died while awaiting trial for his part in an alleged coup attempt. It is generally accepted that he was murdered under the orders of President Idi Amin, although the official account is of a car accident.[4] Archbishop Janani Luwum and land minister Lt Col Erinayo Oryema were killed in the same incident.[4] In July 2015, President Yoweri Museveni attended a service in his honour, outlining Oboth Ofumbi's apparent struggle against the Amin regime.[2]
Authorship
Oboth Ofumbi wrote "History & Customs of the Jopadhola" in 1960, one of the first ethnographies of the Adhola people.[5]
Bibliography
- Oboth-Ofumbi, A.C.K. Padhola, East African Literature Bureau, Nairobi, 1959
References
- ^ "Ofumbi knew too much to stay alive". New Vision. 23 April 2013. from the original on 1 December 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ a b . The Insider. 28 July 2015. Archived from the original on 29 July 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ Wilson, E. G. (1966). Who's Who in East Africa 1965-1966. London: Marco Publishers (Africa) Limited.
- ^ a b c Henry Lubega (26 July 2015). "Oboth Ofumbi's nine days as acting president". Daily Monitor. from the original on 14 September 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ Europa Publications (1977). Africa South of the Sahara: 1977. London: Europa Publications.