Former Makerere registrar Bernard Onyango dead

By Vision Reporter

SEASONED academician Bernard Onyango is dead.

Having retired over a decade ago, after a strikingly long and unique record of service as academic registrar at both Makerere and Uganda Martyrs universities, Onyango has been battling hypertension and other ailments for years.   He passed on at his home, Makerere University, in Kampala today morning. 

Onyango, who is scheduled to be laid to rest in his ancestral home, in Kiyeyi, 32km out of Tororo town; will always be remembered for his outstanding contribution to higher education in the country. 

He died at 83 years of age. 

Having been academic registrar for the last 40 years in two universities, Onyango’s name will boldly be printed among the most outstanding contributors to Uganda’s higher education.

Onyango, who is believed to have been the first to attain a university degree in the former Bukedi district (comprising of present day Tororo, Pallisa, and Busia districts) started his career as deputy registrar of Makerere in 1963 before becoming the first African Academic Registrar of the University of East Africa where he served for five years until Makerere became a fully-fledged and independent university in 1970.  Onyango was registrar until he retired in 1992. 

Together with others, Onyango pioneered the establishment of Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi, serving as academic registrar until he retired in December 2000.

Onyango was a renowned academician, locally and internationally.   Apart from his long service at Makerere, Onyango had a record of steering and keeping the name of Makerere high without any scandals. But Onyango was not one to brag about his achievements nor to condemn colleagues who failed.