Former Gender Minister Zoe Bakoko Bakoru’s Bid for OWC Elderly Project Rejected by Gen. Saleh Over Alleged Double Standards

By Jako David Waluluka

This website has learned exclusively that former Gender and Labor Minister Zoe Bakoko Bakoro’s attempt to sell her ‘Elders Project’ to General Caleb Akandwanaho, also known as Salim Saleh, who oversees Operation Wealth Creation, has ultimately failed to materialize.

Sylvia Owori Damalie, a high-ranking official at Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), has been linked to a new project proposed by disgraced former Gender and Labor Minister Zoe Bakoko Bakoro. According to sources within OWC, Bakoko formulated the project under Owori’s guidance, allegedly aiming to establish an official office for the former minister.

Owori, a renowned fashion designer and entrepreneur, serves as the Director of Operations at OWC, a position she has held since her promotion in 2020. Her role involves overseeing field operations and providing strategic support to the organization.

According to sources, Sylvia Owori Damalie and Zoe Bakoko Bakoro have been secretly meeting at Murphy Longue in Gulu, where they have been engaged in a series of clandestine discussions.

It appears that Zoe Bakoko Bakoro, the former Gender and Labor Minister, had a meeting with Sylvia Owori, a renowned fashion designer and Director of Operations at Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), along with Daniel Kazibwe, aka Ragga Dee, and the Ghetto Youth Cabinet from Gulu city. The meeting was focused on planning development projects for Gulu city.

Interestingly, Sylvia Owori has had a successful career in fashion, serving as the Executive Assistant to General Salim Saleh, the National Coordinator of OWC, before being promoted to Director of Operations in 2020.

It’s worth noting that General Saleh has been quite selective about his meetings lately, having recently declined a meeting with David Pulkol, citing the need for some private time.

After conducting extensive consultations and exploring various options across the country, Zoe Bakoko Bakoro ultimately decided to focus on a project centered on supporting elderly persons.

It appears that Zoe Bakoko Bakoro’s proposal for an “Elders Project” was rejected by General Saleh, who questioned her motives. Given her past claims of persecution by the Ugandan government, General Saleh found it contradictory that she would now seek a retirement package from the same government.

This decision may have significant implications for Bakoko’s future plans. In general, early retirement packages can be complex and influenced by various factors, including an individual’s eligibility for pension programs, potential tax implications, and the impact on their retirement savings.

It’s unclear what specific factors contributed to General Saleh’s decision, but it’s evident that Bakoko’s past actions and claims played a significant role.

A Cloud of Controversy Surrounds Bakoko’s Past

Zoe Bakoko Bakoro, the former Gender and Labor Minister, has a checkered past marred by allegations of abuse of office. In 2007, Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Magrate Tibulya issued a warrant for her arrest, citing the mismanagement of $8 million, which resulted in significant financial losses.

At the time, Bakoko claimed to be bedridden in a London hospital, only to resurface later in the United States. Her whereabouts remained unknown for an extended period, sparking speculation about her activities.

Fast-forward to late 2023, Bakoko made a clandestine return to Uganda, where she has been secretly meeting with officials from Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) in Gulu. Her recent activities have raised eyebrows, particularly given her history of alleged corruption and abuse of office.