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Henry Oryem Okello

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Henry Oryem Okello
Okello in 2012
Born (1960-01-21) 21 January 1960 (age 64)
Uganda
NationalityUgandan
CitizenshipUganda
Alma materUniversity of Buckingham
(Bachelor of Laws)
University of Southampton
(Master of Laws)
General Council of the Bar
(Barrister-at-Law)
OccupationLawyer & Politician
Years active1988–present
Known forPolitics
TitleState Minister for Foreign Affairs (International Affairs)

Henry Oryem Okello is a Ugandan lawyer and politician. He is the current State Minister for Foreign Affairs (International Affairs). He was appointed to that position in 2004. In the cabinet reshuffles of 1 June 2006,[1] that of 16 February 2009,[2] and that of 27 May 2011,[3][better source needed] he retained his cabinet post. He has previously served as State Minister for Sports, from 2001 until 2005. He also serves as the elected Member of Parliament for "Chua County", Kitgum District, until 2021.[4]

Background and education

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He was born in Chwa County in Kitgum District on 21 January 1960. His late father was General Tito Lutwa Okello (1914–1996), who served as President of Uganda between July 1985 and January 1986.[5]

Oryem Okello holds the degree of Bachelor of Laws with Honours, from the University of Buckingham in the United Kingdom, obtained in 1985. He also holds the degree of Master of Laws, from the University of Southampton, also in the UK, obtained in 1989. He was a practising Barrister-at-Law in Britain, before he left to enter Uganda's politics in 2001.[4]

Ugandan Acting Foreign Minister Okello Oryem visits AMISOM

Career

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He practised as a legal executive between 1988 and 2000, in the United Kingdom. In 2001, he was elected to represent Chwa County, Kitgum District, in the Ugandan Parliament, serving continuously until 2006. He was appointed Minister of State for Education and Sports, responsible for sports, serving in that capacity concurrent with his parliamentary responsibilities, until 2005. In 2005 he was appointed to his current ministerial position. Between 2001 and 2005, he served as the Anglophone Vice President, Supreme Council for Sports in Africa.[4]

Minister Henry Okello Oryem
Minister Henry Okello Oryem

He did not contest his parliamentary seat during the 2006 elections. However, he remained a member of parliament, in an ex-official capacity, as a cabinet minister. Between 2006 and 2008, he served as a member of the government delegation to the Juba peace talks between the Ugandan Government and representatives of the Lord's Resistance Army. On many occasions, he was the Deputy Leader of the Uganda Government Delegation, led by Ambassador Ruhakana Rugunda, the Ugandan Minister of Internal Affairs at that time.

In the 2011 National Elections, Okello Oryem defeated the then MP for "Chua County", Okello Okello, of the Uganda People's Congress political party, to regain his parliamentary seat. He is the current incumbent MP.[6] On 24 January 2024, He held a bilateral meeting with the Ambassador of Russia to Uganda, H.E. Vladlen Semivolos.[7]

Personal details

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Okello (left) with Ash Carter in 2013

Henry Oryem Okello is married.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Mukasa, Henry (2 June 2006). "Cabinet Ministries Allocated". Ne Vision (Kampala). Archived from the original on 11 December 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  2. ^ "Full Cabinet List As At 18 February 2009". New Vision (Kampala). 18 February 2009. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  3. ^ "Comprehensive List of New Cabinet Appointments & Dropped Ministers". 27 May 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2015 – via Facebook.
  4. ^ a b c "Profile of Oryem Henry Okello, Member of Parliament for Chua County, Kitgum District". Parliament of Uganda. 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  5. ^ Titus Kakembo, and Joel Ogwang (25 January 2012). "Tito Okello: The President Who Was Kept on His Toes". New Vision (Kampala). Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  6. ^ Mubiri, Ruth (23 March 2011). "MP Okello Okello Blames Government for His Defeat". Uganda Radio Network (URN).
  7. ^ "The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs /International Affairs Hon. Okello Oryem Henry has held a bilateral meeting with the Ambassador of Russia to Uganda, H.E. Vladlen Semivolos". 24 January 2024.
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