Aliker, man of substance
Jan 25, 2006
The late president, Julius Nyerere, coined the phrase “Man of substance†to refer to Martin Aliker.<br>Aliker, the outgoing board chairman of Uganda Breweries, has indicated that this is the beginning of his disengagement from public life into retirement.
By Edward Kayondo
The late president, Julius Nyerere, coined the phrase “Man of substance†to refer to Martin Aliker.
Aliker, the outgoing board chairman of Uganda Breweries, has indicated that this is the beginning of his disengagement from public life into retirement.
Prince Aliker and all his siblings, including the late Kabaka Yekka, member of parliament Daudi Ochieng, Janet Okech (Mrs Odonga).... were sent to Budo via the Kabaka’s palace. Aliker resided in Canada House.
Chief Okech, Aliker’s father, was on good terms with all royalty in Uganda and the young Aliker became a darling of the palace officials, at the same time as Daudi Ochieng was becoming a bosom friend of Sir Edward Mutesa. Aliker surprised many of his friends because he spoke fluent Luganda.
His classmates included Hon. Justus Bagagaire, a former minister, Hon. Rhoda Nsibirwa Kalema, a former Member of Parliament for Kiboga and Prof. J.W Kibuuka.
Aliker had trouble establishing his own identity because he was always referred to as the brother of the immensely popular Daudi Ochieng.
He got the nickname of Moi (Luo word for lion) from Senteza-Kajubi and other housemates.
The urbane Aliker was the editor of the Makerereian and made friends with a more provincial year mate, Milton Obote from Busoga College Mwiri. Their paths were to cross on a number of occasions.
After Makerere University, Aliker taught at Nabumali High School under Rev. Can. Buttomley (headmaster 1930-64).
He got a fulbright scholarship to the North western University to pursue a Bachelors Degree in Philosophy and Political Science and later studied dental surgery.
Aliker was active in student politics, thus becoming the president of the African Students Union (Americas), East African Students Association (USA) and Foreign Students Association (North Western University). He left the USA for Birmingham University in the UK to licentiate in dental surgery. It is then that he married an American beau, Camille. As a dental surgeon in Kampala, he removed teeth from the sweet and cake-eating elite and supplied golden dentures to the tooth deficient ones.
Aliker invested wisely in real estate in the upscale suburbs of Kololo and Nakasero. He also bought shares in reputable money minting companies. He was at one time the biggest shareholder in Uganda Breweries. His old friend, Obote, invited him to be the best man at his wedding in 1963.
Aliker was chairman Central Scholarships Committee with an urgent brief to train as many Ugandans as possible to take over jobs of the leaving colonial servants between 1962-1966.
He fled into exile in Kenya in 1972, but landed softly into the top echelons of Kenyan Society personified by the Budo-educated Attorney General, Charles Njonjo.
His shares in Uganda Breweries gave him an automatic slot of director, East Breweries. He set up an enviable private practice, which was interrupted by the Anti-Amin Liberation War. Nyerere and Amin noticed Aliker’s attributes and coined the phrase “Man of subtance†to refer to him.
A man of integrity, Aliker was put in charge of President Museveni’s campaign funds in 2001 and accounted for every cent. He campaigned for Museveni with the famous American saying, “If it ain’t broken, don’t mend it†and that Museveni should continue in office.
The outgoing chairman Uganda Breweries has handed over to his brain rich godson Dr. William Kalema, chairman Monitor Newspapers and Publications, Credit Reference Bureau, Stanbic Bank, Director Cooper Motor Corporation, East African Railways Development Corporation, Nation Media Group, Hima Cement Company, National Insurance Corporation and member of Africa Region Advisory Board Coca-cola Company.
Aliker is slated to become Uganda’s first oil sheikh if Heritage Oil and Gas Corporation find oil in the rolling valleys of Bundibugyo. Having finished his term as chancellor Nkumba University, Aliker is now the Chancellor of Gulu University, board vice chairperson of Mulago National Referral Hospital and chairman of the Committee Organising Budo’s Centenary Celebrations.
The Aliker family are socialites per excellence and have attended numerous high profile social events including goat races and lake cruises.
They are the most sought out people aged between 70-78 and are members of the Uganda Golf Club, the prestigious Muthaiga, Nyali, Windsor Golf and Country Club and the mount Kenya Safari Club.
Aliker is a generous man and pays fees for numerous students. He is also a very respected man at Mengo, Buganda Kingdom’s seat and many of the agreements between Mengo and Central Government bear the hallmark of his invisible hand.
Aliker’s word is highly respected in financial circles and word has it that a recommendation from him could secure you a big loan to build a factory without additional collateral.
He recently led a high-powered delegation including the Prime Minister, Hon. Apollo Nsibambi and Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi, complete with Royal Larakaraka Acholi dancers to the consecration of the Archbishop of York, Dr. Sentamu.
Aliker we wish you a happy and well deserved comfortable retirement.
The writer is the
consultant, Old Budonians Club
The late president, Julius Nyerere, coined the phrase “Man of substance†to refer to Martin Aliker.
Aliker, the outgoing board chairman of Uganda Breweries, has indicated that this is the beginning of his disengagement from public life into retirement.
Prince Aliker and all his siblings, including the late Kabaka Yekka, member of parliament Daudi Ochieng, Janet Okech (Mrs Odonga).... were sent to Budo via the Kabaka’s palace. Aliker resided in Canada House.
Chief Okech, Aliker’s father, was on good terms with all royalty in Uganda and the young Aliker became a darling of the palace officials, at the same time as Daudi Ochieng was becoming a bosom friend of Sir Edward Mutesa. Aliker surprised many of his friends because he spoke fluent Luganda.
His classmates included Hon. Justus Bagagaire, a former minister, Hon. Rhoda Nsibirwa Kalema, a former Member of Parliament for Kiboga and Prof. J.W Kibuuka.
Aliker had trouble establishing his own identity because he was always referred to as the brother of the immensely popular Daudi Ochieng.
He got the nickname of Moi (Luo word for lion) from Senteza-Kajubi and other housemates.
The urbane Aliker was the editor of the Makerereian and made friends with a more provincial year mate, Milton Obote from Busoga College Mwiri. Their paths were to cross on a number of occasions.
After Makerere University, Aliker taught at Nabumali High School under Rev. Can. Buttomley (headmaster 1930-64).
He got a fulbright scholarship to the North western University to pursue a Bachelors Degree in Philosophy and Political Science and later studied dental surgery.
Aliker was active in student politics, thus becoming the president of the African Students Union (Americas), East African Students Association (USA) and Foreign Students Association (North Western University). He left the USA for Birmingham University in the UK to licentiate in dental surgery. It is then that he married an American beau, Camille. As a dental surgeon in Kampala, he removed teeth from the sweet and cake-eating elite and supplied golden dentures to the tooth deficient ones.
Aliker invested wisely in real estate in the upscale suburbs of Kololo and Nakasero. He also bought shares in reputable money minting companies. He was at one time the biggest shareholder in Uganda Breweries. His old friend, Obote, invited him to be the best man at his wedding in 1963.
Aliker was chairman Central Scholarships Committee with an urgent brief to train as many Ugandans as possible to take over jobs of the leaving colonial servants between 1962-1966.
He fled into exile in Kenya in 1972, but landed softly into the top echelons of Kenyan Society personified by the Budo-educated Attorney General, Charles Njonjo.
His shares in Uganda Breweries gave him an automatic slot of director, East Breweries. He set up an enviable private practice, which was interrupted by the Anti-Amin Liberation War. Nyerere and Amin noticed Aliker’s attributes and coined the phrase “Man of subtance†to refer to him.
A man of integrity, Aliker was put in charge of President Museveni’s campaign funds in 2001 and accounted for every cent. He campaigned for Museveni with the famous American saying, “If it ain’t broken, don’t mend it†and that Museveni should continue in office.
The outgoing chairman Uganda Breweries has handed over to his brain rich godson Dr. William Kalema, chairman Monitor Newspapers and Publications, Credit Reference Bureau, Stanbic Bank, Director Cooper Motor Corporation, East African Railways Development Corporation, Nation Media Group, Hima Cement Company, National Insurance Corporation and member of Africa Region Advisory Board Coca-cola Company.
Aliker is slated to become Uganda’s first oil sheikh if Heritage Oil and Gas Corporation find oil in the rolling valleys of Bundibugyo. Having finished his term as chancellor Nkumba University, Aliker is now the Chancellor of Gulu University, board vice chairperson of Mulago National Referral Hospital and chairman of the Committee Organising Budo’s Centenary Celebrations.
The Aliker family are socialites per excellence and have attended numerous high profile social events including goat races and lake cruises.
They are the most sought out people aged between 70-78 and are members of the Uganda Golf Club, the prestigious Muthaiga, Nyali, Windsor Golf and Country Club and the mount Kenya Safari Club.
Aliker is a generous man and pays fees for numerous students. He is also a very respected man at Mengo, Buganda Kingdom’s seat and many of the agreements between Mengo and Central Government bear the hallmark of his invisible hand.
Aliker’s word is highly respected in financial circles and word has it that a recommendation from him could secure you a big loan to build a factory without additional collateral.
He recently led a high-powered delegation including the Prime Minister, Hon. Apollo Nsibambi and Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi, complete with Royal Larakaraka Acholi dancers to the consecration of the Archbishop of York, Dr. Sentamu.
Aliker we wish you a happy and well deserved comfortable retirement.
The writer is the
consultant, Old Budonians Club