Senior surgeon Olila brutal murder leaves void in fraternity

The Police have confirmed the murder of Dr Wilfred Olila, a renowned senior otolaryngologist. 

An Otolaryngologist aka ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist is a healthcare specialist who treats conditions affecting ears, nose and throat. 

They can also perform head and neck surgeries, including surgeries on the ears, mouth, throat, nose, neck and face. 

The confirmation comes after his body was discovered on January 17, 2025, at Otuboi Centre on the Soroti highway by the Otuboi Police.

“He was tied, brutalised, suffocated, and then murdered,” Police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma told New Vision Online.

Kituuma said the Police are currently tracing through security camera footage to identify the bodaboda rider who last transported him.

“We currently suspect the rider dropped him off at the scene where he was murdered. We will provide a detailed statement,” he added during the joint security weekly briefing on January 17, 2024.

Kituuma promised the medical fraternity that the Police would bring the culprits to book.

Tracing his last moments

On Friday, January 17, 2025, Olila started his day as usual, heading to his New Moroto Clinic in his vehicle.

At lunchtime, he went home to eat with his family. However, on his way back to work, he left his car at home and used a bodaboda.

According to Uganda Medical Association Lira branch chairperson Andrew Odur, Olila normally leaves work early at 6:00pm, but on this particular day, his colleagues reported that he stayed until 7:00pm.

“After lunch, he left the car at home and used a bodaboda. He booked appointments for the next day after attending to his clients. That was the last time anyone saw him alive,” Odur recounted.

Odur described Olila as a simple man who was unlikely to have held grudges. However, the manner of his death suggested a crime of extreme anger.

“When I saw his body at the mortuary, his hands and legs were tied very tightly. He had injuries on his head, and his face was swollen, likely from beatings. It looked like he endured severe torture before he died. He must have died in excruciating pain,” Odur said.

Despite retiring from civil service, Olila was deeply committed to training medics, benefiting many with his expertise. The medical community now fears for its safety, especially those working late hours.

“We hope the Police can track down the people responsible. Everyone is living in fear, particularly those working at night,” Dr. Odur said.

Community reaction

Uganda Medical Association president Dr Herbert Luswata described Olila as a dedicated ENT surgeon who loved his profession.

In a statement, he strongly condemned the violent attack on Olila and other medical professionals: “This act of brutality against health workers is a grave injustice. As a community, we demand respect and protection for our noble profession. We urge the police to expedite the investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Who was Olila?

Olila graduated from Makerere University in 1984 with a bachelor's degree of medicine and surgery. He earned a master's of medicine in otorhinolaryngology, head and neck surgery from the same institution in 2008.

He worked at Lira, Soroti, and Kabale regional referral hospitals until his retirement in 2015 at the age of 60. A visionary, he was involved in various private initiatives and served as a dedicated lecturer at Soroti University.

Olila was a family man, survived by a widow and six children. His death has left a void in the medical community, which mourns the loss of a mentor, teacher, and healer according to Uganda Medical Association.