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It is sombre in Teso with burials of icons being held one after the other. On Saturday, Dr Tom Okurut, was an outstanding climate change activist, policy formulator and environmentalist officer who served as executive director of the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA).

Today, Sunday, Teso sent off Prof. Justin Opio Epelu, an academic giant who served as the deputy vice-chancellor of Makerere University between 1993 and 2003.

Prof. Opio who died aged 80, is credited in Teso for peacebuilding, having served as the chairperson of the Presidential Commission for Teso.

In the early 1990s, insurgency rocked Teso after the Iteso took arms against the government, but Prof. Opio agreed to take the mantle to go and talk to the rebels to abandon fighting the government.

“He was a brave man who went to talk to the rebels and managed to win the hearts of the rebels who abandoned fighting the government,” recounted the former minister Rose Akello who served with the deceased as his secretary.

Former Electoral Commission chairperson Besweri Akabwai described Prof. Opio as a peacemaker who had Teso at heart.

The paramount chief of the Kumam, Rafael Otaya who also served with Prof. Opio, hailed him for his bravery to talk to the rebels face-to-face.

“We celebrate a hero who abandoned his career for Iteso. The peace we enjoy today is out of his efforts,” Otaya said.

The party president of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Patrick Amuriat described Prof. Opio as Teso's “saviour” who served the country with dignity.

Amuriat and Soroti district woman MP Anna Adeke Ebaju and Soroti county MP Patrick Aeku. (Photo by Godfrey Ojore)

Minister Musa Ecweru and Amuriat during the burial. (Photo by Godfrey Ojore)

Minister Musa Ecweru said that Teso has lost a champion of peace who shall live for generations to remember.

In attendance are a number of professors including Prof. Francis Omaswa, Prof. John Ikoja, Prof. John Okedi, Prof. John Opuda-Asibo, and Prof. Olila among others.

Professors in attendance. (Photo by Godfrey Ojore)

Prof. Opio was born at Gwetom, Ocokican in Soroti district and his parents were Gabriel Opio and Erina Aripo both deceased. He is survived by five children, three boys and two girls. His wife is Gladys Ikadem whom he married in 1972.

Prof. Opio worked as a lecturer at Makerere University in February 1973, and worked as a senior scientific officer in Lusaka Zambia 1977-1982.

He was later promoted to senior lecturer and then associate professor at Makerere 1982-1985 and served as head of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy 1985-1990.

Appointed professor and later deputy vice-chancellor from 1993-2003.

He has authored a book called Teso War 1986-1992 Causes and Consequences.

Prof. Opio also served on several boards, and he was a member of numerous organisations.