Journalist’sbody still in S. Africa

Feb 17, 2009

The body of Makerere University lecturer Denis Ocwich, who died in South Africa on February 8, is yet to be returned home.

By Anne Mugisa

The body of Makerere University lecturer Denis Ocwich, who died in South Africa on February 8, is yet to be returned home.

His uncle, Goodman Okonye, said Ocwich died of multiple organ failure.

Authorities at Settlers Hospital in Grahamstown, where the lecturer died said the postmortem report would be sent with the body.

Ocwich was in South Africa pursuing his PhD in journalism at Rhodes University.

His lecturer, Prof. Staude, communicated to Okonye that Ocwich had complained the previous week that he was unwell.

Ssemogerere Kyazze, his colleague at Rhodes said 35,000 Rand (about sh7.5m) was needed to transport the body.

“We shall need every penny because, like many of us, Denis did not come from a wealthy family and only got where he was because he was smart,” said Kyazze.

Family members said another sh2m would be needed to transport the body from Entebbe to Lira district for burial.

Ocwich worked with The New Vision before he went to Sweden for a Masters degree in Global Journalism.

He published his last article in The New Vision on January 20.

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