The agriculture ministry has eulogised fallen executive director of Climate Change Action for East Africa Dr Tom Okurut Okia for his outstanding contribution towards conserving the environment in the region.

"Climate change reduces crop productivity and affects animal rearing and we are here today to celebrate the life of Okurut who served in a number of portfolios to conserve nature and the environment in which we live in," agriculture minister Frank Tumwebaze said.

While representing the Government during a funeral service, Tumwebaze eulogised the deceased as an outstanding climate change activist, policy formulator and environmentalist officer with distinguished character in service.

“Okia was very professional, committed and a patriotic gentleman in every sense and he listened to every complaint. In the Kinsai area where I met Okurut, we launched a farm access road together, he gifted me a cow which I value highly more than money these days. I am now part of his family,” he said. 

Okurut, who succumbed to cardiac arrest at his home in Mukono district, was a resident of Akadot village, Mukongoro sub-county in Kumi district.

Dr Ademun Anna Rose Okurut the widow to the fallen climate change icon Dr Tom Okurut Okia mourning her husband.

“Everyone dies but not everyone lives. Dr Okurut has lived an exemplary life helping Uganda in issues to do with fighting climate change and environmental degradation,” Tumwebaze added.

Hardworking man

Amb. Dr. Cheluget Kipyego, the vice-chairperson of ASARECA board of directors said Okurut was hard working, resilient and principled.

“We worked together at the East African Community Secretariat in Arusha, Tanzania and at Lake Victoria Basin Community as my director. Because of his outstanding character and hardwork, he was appointed as the first executive secretary at Lake Victoria Basin Commission EAC Kisumu in Kenya,” he said.

Development pillar

Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party president Patrick Amuriat Oboi eulogised Okurut as a development pillar in Teso sub region who introduced commercial farming and modern agriculture.

“Okurut was a development pillar in our area and he so much-loved the environment and nature. We shall miss him especially during the tough times where Uganda is facing climate change due to poor conservation of our environment,” Amuriat said.

NEMA executive director Akankwasah Barirega eulogised Okurut as an incorruptible character who excelled in his service to the nation.

“Okurut designed policies which we are still implementing to realize a stable nature of our environment to mitigate climate change.

My boyfriend fulfilled his promise

Widow Rose Ademun Anna Okurut mourned her husband as the most loving who expressed his humility and understanding towards marriage life.

“My husband was like my own child. I called him my boyfriend even when we had produced children together because he fulfilled his promise of loving me wholeheartedly without any woman in competition. I have lost my mentor, partner and a boyfriend,” she heartfully broke down in tears. 

Biography

• Okurut was born on January 6, 1960
• He went to Akadot Primary School from 1967-1973
• Gulu High School from 1974-1977
• Teso College Aloet in Soroti in 1978-1979
• Between 1980-1983, Okurut was pursuing a bachelor of science at Makerere University
• Attained a post-graduate diploma in renewable energy engineering at Eni-Sogesta Institute Urbino Italy
• Went to Nigeria at the University of Ibadan to study Master of Science between 1987-1988
• In 1991, he studied for a diploma in environmental science and technology at Delft Institute for Water Education, Netherlands
• Between 1995-2000, Okurut did PhD Environmental Science and Technology (IHE) Delft and Wageningen University, Netherlands
• The deceased survived with three children namely Keefa Odongo Okurut, Amaziah Martin Otim, Edith Morena Akurut and four grandchildren. These are Ademun Maya, Emmanuel Odongo, Asante Akia and Theo Okurut.

Professional life

At the time of his death, Okurut was the Executive Director at Climate Change Action for East Africa, Kampala FROM 2021-2024.

Between 2011-2021, Okurut worked as the Executive Director, National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) in Kampala. Between 2006 -2011, he worked as the Executive Secretary at Lake Victoria Basin Commission, EAC Kisumu in Kenya and became Programs Officer at Lake Victoria Development Program, East African Community (EAC) secretariat, Arusha in Tanzania.

Between 2000 – 2001, he became manager (Quality, Training, Research and Development Department) at National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) Kampala.

In 1989 to 1994, Okurut became a lecturer in the Chemistry Department at Makerere University Kampala. When he finished undergraduate studies, his first job was acting as a Teaching Assistant, Chemistry Department at Makerere University.