Odong Latek

Who was Odong Latek?

Justine Odong Latek was a brigadier in the government Uganda National Liberation Army. Following the victory of Yoweri Museveni's National Resistance Army in 1986, Latek formed the rebel Uganda People's Democratic Army.

On 20 August 1986, the UPDA began attacks upon NRA units in Acholiland. However, the UPDA was unable to wrest control of the population centers from the NRA. Following a 21 March 1987 meeting with the NRA, General Salim Saleh flew to the UPDA base and met with Latek, who is reported to have stated his support for the peace agreement. However, in May the UPDA replaced Latek with Angelo Okello, who had been commander of the UPDA Division One in Gulu. Okello signed a peace agreement on 3 June 1988. A 1997 report states that Latek and several UPDA units loyal to him did not take place in the peace talks on the advice of the UPDA political wing in London.

Latek and his followers then joined the Lord's Resistance Army to continue fighting. According to the recollection of a captured LRA commander, in September 1987 Latek met with LRA leader Joseph Kony, who appointed Latek overall military commander. According to reports, Latek was killed by the NRA while in the Nyono Hills in 1989.