On Zanzibar, Okello was also a member of the Painters Union, being a house painter, which gave a regular salary and allowed him to move around the island, supposedly giving speeches at union branches, but in reality to organize a revolution to overthrow the Sultan.
On Zanzibar, Okello was part of the Painters Union as a house painter, which provided financial stability and enabled movement around the island. He publicly appeared at union branches to give speeches but secretly planned a coup against the Sultan.