Distinguished Ugandan economist Prof. Ochieng is dead

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Professor Erisa Olwenyi Ochieng, a distinguished Ugandan economist, consultant, and former academic at Makerere University had passed away.

Mbarara University of Science and Technology, where he was a member of the first Council, announced his death in a notice shared on their X-platform.

Professor Ochieng passed away on February 14, 2026. The cause was not immediately revealed.

Prof. Ochieng served as an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at Makerere University, where he was a well-known "don" and mentor to many Ugandan economists.

He was a consultant at International Development Consultants and worked with international organisations like the United Nations Development Program on economic challenges such as employment creation in Uganda.

Ochieng was also a vocal critic of certain international economic policies. He famously challenged the World Bank's parameters for assessing performance, arguing that focusing solely on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and inflation ignored critical issues like abject poverty and unemployment. 

A funeral notice indicates that a church service is scheduled for February 20 at St Luke Church, Ntinda, while burial will take place on February 21, in Tororo.