Lt Gen Frederick Alexander Okecho: The Gallant Soldier Who Knew When to be Still

October 11, 2026 in Letters, Opinion by Editor

In a tribute to retired Lt Gen Frederick Alexander Okecho, the decorated Ugandan soldier, diplomat and intelligence chief, Retired Justice Richard Okumu Wengi remembers him for his quiet strength, professional service and thoughtful friendship.

 

By Justice Richard Okumu Wengi

There are men whose greatness is measured by the battles they fought, the ranks they attained and the commands they held. There are others whose greatness is revealed in a quieter way: in their wisdom, their humility, their loyalty to friends and their ability to listen as much as they speak.

Lieutenant General (Rtd) Frederick Alexander Okecho, who passed away in Kampala on September 30, 2026, belonged to the latter rare category. He was a gallant soldier, a distinguished servant of Uganda and, to those of us fortunate enough to know him personally, a gentle and thoughtful friend whose presence will be sorely missed.

As I reflect on his life and service, I am reminded of a simple truth: even the lion does not roar all the time. Sometimes, it lies low, observes its surroundings and gathers its thoughts. General Okecho understood this lesson. Behind the stature of a senior military officer was a man of remarkable restraint, modesty and quiet strength.

I cherished the moments when he would visit me at my home in Kampala. We would sit together for hours, discussing Uganda, its politics, its institutions and the direction of our country. These were not hurried conversations. He listened carefully, weighed arguments and offered his thoughts with the measured judgment of a man who had witnessed the many turns of Uganda’s turbulent history. Those conversations remain among my treasured memories of him.

Born on June 23, 1936, Okecho’s journey took him from his ancestral home in West Budama, Tororo, through the classrooms of Kisoko Primary School, Nyakasura and, Nabumali High School, and Kyambogo Teacher Training College, before his path led him into military service. His early experience as a teacher was an important beginning to a life that would demand discipline, leadership and the ability to guide others.

He subsequently pursued further studies at the University of Edinburgh and, after joining the Uganda Army in 1965, undertook military training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in Britain. His professional development also took him to the United States, where he attended courses at Fort Leavenworth Command and General Staff College and Fort Bragg.

These institutions helped shape an officer whose career would span military command, diplomacy, intelligence and public administration. But formal training alone does not make a great soldier. The true measure of an officer lies in how knowledge and authority are applied, particularly during periods of national uncertainty.

General Okecho served Uganda through some of its most difficult political and military transitions. His career included service in the liberation army, a senior position in the National Resistance Army and subsequent responsibilities in the country’s security and diplomatic establishments.

His service extended beyond the battlefield and the barracks. He served as Uganda’s ambassador to China from 1992 to 1998 and later as Director of the External Security Organisation from 1998 to 2001. He also undertook responsibilities in defence administration, including chairing the Ministry of Defence Contracts Committee for several years.

These assignments called for different but complementary qualities: the soldier’s discipline, the diplomat’s tact, the intelligence officer’s discretion and the administrator’s attention to detail. Okecho’s long career placed him at the intersection of all four.

Yet what I shall remember most is not his rank, his appointments or the honours bestowed upon him. It is the man himself.

In a country where public office and military rank can sometimes create distance between individuals, General Okecho remained approachable. He did not need to dominate a room to establish his presence. His was the authority of experience, exercised without unnecessary noise.

His life also reminds us that service to country does not always follow a straight or predictable path. Uganda’s history has been mark

ed by upheaval, political rivalry and profound institutional change. To serve through such periods requires resilience, adaptability and a capacity to maintain one’s sense of duty amid changing circumstances.

Okecho’s long association with the military, followed by his work in diplomacy and public service, reflected that enduring commitment to Uganda.

His passing on September 30 brought to an end a long life of service. He was laid to rest on October 8 at his ancestral home in Rubongi Parish, Tororo District, with full military honours. The ceremony, marked by a 15-gun salute, recognised the soldier and senior officer who had served his country over many years.

But the most enduring tribute will not be the salute, the uniform or the ceremony. It will be the memories held by family, colleagues, fellow officers and friends who experienced his generosity, wisdom and quiet companionship.

For those of us who knew him beyond the official occasions, there is a particular sadness in losing a man with whom one could sit and discuss the state of the nation for hours. Such friendships are not easily replaced. They are built over time, through mutual respect, honest conversation and the confidence that one can speak freely in the company of another.

My brother, General Okecho, I shall miss you very dearly.

You taught us, through your example, that gallantry need not be loud, that authority need not be overbearing and that a man can carry great responsibility without surrendering his humility.

May the Almighty God comfort your family, your colleagues and all those who mourn you. May He grant us the strength to celebrate your life even as we grieve your departure.

In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray that your soul rests in eternal peace.

Farewell, my brother. Rest well, gallant and gentle soldier.

Amen.

Retired Justice Richard Okumu Wengi