Shaban Opolot

Shaban Opolot (1924 – 6 March 2005) was a Ugandan military officer. He served as Uganda Army Commander from 1964 to 1966.

Early life

Shaban Opolot was born in 1924[1] in Namusi Nakaloke, Uganda. He could speak multiple languages, including Luganda.[2] He was a Muslim of Teso ethnicity.[3]

Military career

In 1945 Opolot enlisted in the King's African Rifles in Mbale. He was assigned to the Infantry Training Centre in Jinja for training. Upon its completion, he was posted to the 7th Battalion in Nairobi. The unit saw service in Mauritus. In 1949, Opolot was promoted to the rank of warrant officer. Three years later he went to the United Kingdom for further military training.[2]

Following a mutiny in 1964, Opolot was appointed Uganda Army Commander.[2] On 23 February 1966 he was made Chief of Defence Staff.[4]

Later life

From 1973 to 1975 Opolot served as Uganda's High Commissioner to Ghana. Upon his return to Uganda, he retired to the east of the country. Opolot died on 6 March 2005 at the age of 86.[2] He was buried the next day in Kireka Village, Nakaloke Sub-County, Mbale District.[1]

References
  1. "The Story of Brig Shaban Opolot Uganda's First Army Commander". The 6th of February: The Magazine of the National Resistance Army (NRA). 18. 2005. p. 25.
  2. Kato, Joshua (23 March 2012). "Shaban Opolot rejected plans to attack the Lubiri in 1966". New Vision. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  3. https://books.google.ca/books?id=KoLbjlIYLzwC&pg=PA72&lpg=PA72&dq=Shaban+Opolot+%22muslim%22&source=bl&ots=kt2xeZywBJ&sig=ACfU3U1C35t-MPo1ThtMy7G9958EWmKTAA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiFtZ204K_sAhWU9Z4KHSirBYcQ6AEwDHoECAcQAQ#v=onepage&q=Shaban%20Opolot%20%22muslim%22&f=false
  4. Kasozi 1994, p. 83.

Works cited
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