Who was George Angulo, Lango’s illustrious son?

Lira | Lango mourns the loss of yet another key member, who died on October 3 at Lira Regional Referral Hospital. 

George Angulo was born in Chegere, Apac in April 1937 to the Late Jago (chief) Petero Wacha of the Okarowok Wibye Acel clan and Imat Adirayo Wacha of the Inomo clan.

He was the first of 27 children. The surviving siblings include Phoebe Kiduli, Hon. Ben Wacha, Margaret Hellen Egwang, James Okot Wacha, William Acut Okaka, Betty Apili Opio, and Rose Alal Owili.

In January 1964, George Angulo married the late Esther A. Angulo, a daughter of Rwot Yakobo Adoko of the Oyima Clan from Akokoro, Maruzi County, in a ceremony attended by Uganda’s Executive Prime Minister, Dr. Apolo Milton Obote.

Their children include Lilian Apollo Angulo, Edith Akello Angulo, Alvin Wacha, and Stephen Ekwee.

Angulo attended Chegere, Ngai, and Aboke Primary Schools, all in present-day West Lango.

He attended Virika Junior Secondary School in Fort Portal from 1952 to 1954, and Namilyango College from 1955 to 1957 for his secondary education.

He was among the first to take the Cambridge School Certificate exam, which he excelled at.

Further training

Mzee Angulo attended a management course in Glasgow, Scotland in 1988, which had a significant positive impact on the quality of his problem-solving and interpersonal skills.

Public service 

He held several positions as a professional public servant.

In 1959, he joined Lango District Administration as a clerk and rose to the position of the Secretary to the District Service Committee.

He worked for the Central Government in the following ministries from the early 1960s to 1977 before fleeing to exile: Public Service Commission, Ministry of Animal Industry, Ministry of Information, and Ministry of Labour.

Between his return from exile in 1979 and his retirement in March 1992, he worked for the Ministries of Information, Commerce, and Local Government.

George Angulo volunteered as a member of the Lira District Service Commission and a board member at the Lira Regional Referral Hospital.

He served as Chairman of the Lira District Land Board and the Oyam District Land Board, as well as a member of the Diocese of Lango’s Synod.

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He also served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees/Directors of Lango College and Advisor to Awitong of Okarowok Wibye Acel.

Since his youth, he has been dedicated to Lango culture. For example, he and his schoolmate and classmate, the late Aman Dugudugu, taught students at Virika in Fort Portal Lango the Ikoce and Abuda cultural dances.

As an elder, he continued to offer progressive advice to his clan’s leadership and the entire Owitong council of Lango. He consistently preached the values of peaceful hesitance, unity in our diversity, truth telling, Lango welfare, and hard work as the foundation of our cultural identity and progress, which every Lango leader must openly demonstrate in their private and public engagements without contradiction.

He was a tactical player and lifelong football promoter who honed his skills early on, earning him a right wing position in primary, junior, and secondary school. He went on to represent Oyam County in the Lango District Football League, where he provided the best right-wing shots, resulting in numerous legendary penalties and goals for his team.

The powerful kicks from George Angulo’s right leg were considered “deadly bullets” by players at the time. Manasi Owiny, the District Sports Officer, recognized George’s football talent and recruited him to the Lango District Football Team.

George’s passion for football was rekindled after retirement when he founded the Angulo Cup, a football league that included secondary schools from the Lango sub-region.

Many people remember him as a trustworthy and diligent worker. His life as a family man and public servant exemplified honesty, accountability, and transparency. He is one of Lango’s sons, who carried our sub-region’s legendary record while working as a public servant for the central government.

George instilled the values of honesty and hard work in his family and the public servants he worked with. Through his honesty and hard work, he made the world a better place for those he directly and indirectly served.

Commitment to his faith and Church

Mzee George remained committed to his faith and Church. This allowed him to put Christian values into practice, as evidenced by his life. He was an active and valuable member of the Kineno Me Lango Synod. The Church of Uganda community will miss George, a pragmatic synod member.

Celebrating his life 

On Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., a special district council session in Lira will be held in his honor.

A special Church service will be held on the same day at 2 p.m. at St Mary’s Church of Uganda in Adekokwok, Lira City East Division.

An overnight vigil will be held at Mzee George Angulo’s home in Adekokwok in the evening of October 8.

The casket containing his remains will leave his home in Adekokwok on October 9 for the Oyam town council.

On October 9, at 1pm, a special Church service will be held at Holy Trinity Church of Uganda in Adirao.

There will be an overnight vigil at the late Jago Petero Wacha’s home in Agoa Cell, Eastern Ward, Oyam Town Council on October 9.

Mzee George Angulo’s remains will be interred on Thursday, October 10, 2024, beginning with prayers at 11:00 a.m. in Agoa Cell, Eastern Ward, Oyam Town Council, and Oyam District.

The full biography and program were adapted from Henry Nickson Ogwal, the Public Relations Team Leader for Mzee’s burial.