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NEWS– Hundreds of mourners who included Members of Parliament, UPDF officers, friends and family have today gathered at Holy Rosary Catholic Parish in Gulu City for a requiem mass of Maj Patrick Opio Awany who lost his life in an improvised devise explosion attack in Somalia.

Maj Opio was a younger brother to the NRM Secretary Genera Hon Richard Todwong and UPDF Reserve Forces Commander Lt Gen Charles Otema Awany.

While addressing Mourners Hon Todwong described his late brother as a rare person who diligently served God and humanity.

“He will be remembered for his bravery and unmatched passion for the sovereignty of his country,” Todwong said, as he narrated the life of his fallen brother.

He further called upon religious leaders and cultural leaders to work together with the Central Government to unite the masses and work towards household wealth creation.

The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF,) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba who was represented by mechanised Brigade Commander, Brig Charles Byanyima described the late as a dedicated, courageous, God-fearing soldier who fought hard to pacify Uganda and the entire continent.

The late Maj Opio Awany bravely faced countless battles in the Central African Republic, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia and died while serving under the African Transition Mission (ATMIS) in Somalia, will be laid to rest tomorrow at Tangi village in Purongo subcounty in Nwoya District.