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Geoffrey Etwop, a son of Okello Amulamperi of the Ober clan and a nephew to the Inomo clan, began life in modest circumstances. He attended Aberdyangoto Primary School in Agege Parish, Bala Sub-County, Kole District for his early education.
Later, he moved to Anai Primary School from Primary Three to Primary Five before dropping out of school. What followed was a life marked by ambition, controversy and alleged misdeeds.
A Humble Start: In the early 1980s, Etwop ventured into petty business, hawking boiled eggs to make ends meet. He soon expanded his trade, traveling to Mbale to buy second-hand clothes, which he sold in local markets. His entrepreneurial spirit was evident as he transitioned from hawking to vending clothes at market centers.
The Turning Point: The 1985 Coup: Following the 1985 coup, Etwop’s trajectory took a controversial turn. He, along with a group of energetic youths, orchestrated the looting of boxes of hand hoes and bicycles from the Lango Cooperative Union Limited stores at Odokomit Ginnery. As the ringleader of the operation, Etwop ensured the stores were completely emptied.
However, greed complicated the relationship between him and his accomplices. Instead of sharing out the proceeds from the looted items, he kept the earnings to himself, using the money to purchase trucks for transporting vendors to markets. This marked the beginning of his rise in the transport business.
Expanding the Empire: With his newfound wealth, Etwop diversified his ventures. He transitioned from selling second-hand clothes to operating high-end boutiques featuring designer wear.
Later, he ventured into the construction industry using his new company known as Tic Lokere Enterprises and he secured his first contract with NUDEIL in Oyam District. From there, he expanded his construction business, taking on projects in various districts across the Lango sub-region.
Dubious Dealings in Construction: Allegations of mischief accompanied Etwop’s rise in the construction sector. He reportedly forged connections with engineers at the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) and engaged in lucrative dealings. His company, Tic Lokere Enterprise Ltd, became a prominent contractor under the Drdip projects funded by the World Bank.
Through leveraging the influence and curious relationships he had accumulated, Etwop carried on securing contracts in districts such as Koboko, Kiryandongo, Madi Okolo and Terego among others. It is widely believed that he cajoled and woed over technical officers inside the Drdip team-both at the headquarters and in the field.
His most recent contract, involving road construction under the Oil Seed Project funded by IFAD, is also rumored to have been secured through similar peddling of his curiously accumulated influence.
A Business Mogul with Shadows: Beyond construction, Etwop expanded into other ventures. He owns Rhino Oil petrol stations, Amulam Pharmacy, Amulam Farmers Village, and Amulam Shopping Mall, the latter situated on land donated by President Yoweri Museveni to the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce, Lango BBranch.
Yet those uncomfortable and opposed to Etwop’s way of doing things have never stopped whistle blowing to URA and other concerned authorities demanding authentication of his standing as a taxpayer. Some have, over the years, demanded for proof that his companies are all 100% tax-compliant and totally free from inappropriate tax conduct.
A History of Violencee: Etwop’s controversial character is not confined to business. In the 1990s, he was accused of lack of appetite to decisively stand up of a group of well-mobilized goons who plotted murdering his cousin, Sylvia Alum, over a land dispute.
Alum was reportedly attacked at her uncle Celestino Opio’s home in Danga Cell, Boke Ward, Lira City East Division and brutally hacked to death with pangas. The incident fueled plenty of local gossip and mistrust and in the process diminished Etwop’s reputation as someone vulnerable relatives could count on.
Haunted by the Past: The betrayal of his looting accomplices and the curious circumstances of Alum’s death didn’t leave Mzee Etwop the same. He avoids staying in his home village, despite building a luxurious house there. Rumors persist that his former allies and comrades-at-work once stormed his home intending to kill him but he was absent at the time. His then-wife and young son Akwanga Francis narrowly escaped harm.
A Polarizing Figure: Etwop is described as brash, arrogant and full of crude pride. Many believe that his controversial past and alleged crimes solely contribute to his polarizing persona. Despite his wealth and influence, Etwop remains a figure that is synonymous with suspicion and disdain in some quarters.
While his entrepreneurial achievements are undeniable, the shadow of his controversial actions manifested over the years continues to follow him and thereby painting a complex picture of ambition, self-centeredness and controversy.
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