A stream of tears for father of Adhola education
Jul 26, 2010
A stranger would wonder what had gone wrong on the morning of July 19 in West Budama County, Tororo district. Students littered the roads going back home.
By Constantine Odongo
and Moses Nampala
A stranger would wonder what had gone wrong on the morning of July 19 in West Budama County, Tororo district. Students littered the roads going back home.
Reason? They and their teachers were mourning the Tieng Adhola kingdom prime minister and the ‘father of teacher-education’ in Tororo.
The towering but humble man died of cancer of the bone marrow. At 63, Obbo-Makola was just beginning to enjoy his retirement package from the public service.
The trainer of more than 8,000 secondary school teachers took over Nagongera National Teachers’ College (NTC) from inception in 1982. When he retired in 2007, the institution was worth a university campus, hence becoming Busitema University, for training teachers.
His Highness the Adhola, Moses Owor, narrated his experience on hearing of the death: “Kings don’t cry in public but I was overwhelmed with grief. I wept like a child on hearing the sad news.â€
When the Tieng Adhola cultural institution was established, it barely had anything. “With the same spirit he showed at the NTC, he had offered to become a link between the Government and the institution. He successfully performed his role of seeing the king get an official car from the Government and funds to construct a palace,†the king noted.
Minister without portfolio, Dorothy Hyuha, a friend of the fallen cultural leader, says when Obbo-Makola, who was a head of department at Kyambogo Polytechnic Institute, was asked to head Nagongera NTC, he never hesitated.
“There was barely any infrastructure on site for the newly founded NTC,†reminisces Hyuha, a teacher by profession. At inception, the NTC sought refuge from the primary school infrastructure for a couple of years before the Government provided funds for construction.
Hyuha says Obbo-Makola convinced students in Senior Six in Bukedi region to join the institution, in an effort to increase the number of teachers.
Moses Ochic, a member of the pioneer staff with Obbo-Makola remembers working under strained conditions because there was inadequacy of instructional materials.
When resources had started trickling in from the ministry, Obbo-Makola, together with the lecturers and board members, would share ideas on priorities, basing on the urgency at hand.
From 40 pioneer diploma teachers in 1983, by 2007, the annual graduands had shot up to 300 when he handed over the institution to Busitema University.
Makerere University don, Odoi Tanga, says at the height of intense hostility between the Jopadhola and the Iteso community over division of Tororo, in 2008, the late prime minister worked tirelessly to avoid blood shed.
The state minister in charge of northern Uganda, David Wakikona, also Obbo-Makola’s old boy at Nabumali High School, said as a youth, Makola won trophies in high jump.
Rebecca Achieng will miss the unreserved compassion that her father offered them. “What interested a child became his priority. When I wanted to become a fashion designer, he did not hesitate. I will miss him,†she muttered as she broke down.
Gabriel Obbo-Katandi, an educationist and a minister in the kingdom, said Obbo-Makola combined culture and Christianity, giving him constant leadership. He noted that as a director of the NTC, discipline, diligence and honesty were a great pillar in his success as an administrator.
“As a teacher, he combined professionalism and commitment, making him a role model for young teachers. As a Canon, he preached what was practical which made him a suitable Church leader.â€
Obbo-Katandi believes these attributes placed him as a key player in the development of education and the cultural institution.
“I feel sad losing my premier and an inspiring colleague in the education profession.
and Moses Nampala
A stranger would wonder what had gone wrong on the morning of July 19 in West Budama County, Tororo district. Students littered the roads going back home.
Reason? They and their teachers were mourning the Tieng Adhola kingdom prime minister and the ‘father of teacher-education’ in Tororo.
The towering but humble man died of cancer of the bone marrow. At 63, Obbo-Makola was just beginning to enjoy his retirement package from the public service.
The trainer of more than 8,000 secondary school teachers took over Nagongera National Teachers’ College (NTC) from inception in 1982. When he retired in 2007, the institution was worth a university campus, hence becoming Busitema University, for training teachers.
His Highness the Adhola, Moses Owor, narrated his experience on hearing of the death: “Kings don’t cry in public but I was overwhelmed with grief. I wept like a child on hearing the sad news.â€
When the Tieng Adhola cultural institution was established, it barely had anything. “With the same spirit he showed at the NTC, he had offered to become a link between the Government and the institution. He successfully performed his role of seeing the king get an official car from the Government and funds to construct a palace,†the king noted.
Minister without portfolio, Dorothy Hyuha, a friend of the fallen cultural leader, says when Obbo-Makola, who was a head of department at Kyambogo Polytechnic Institute, was asked to head Nagongera NTC, he never hesitated.
“There was barely any infrastructure on site for the newly founded NTC,†reminisces Hyuha, a teacher by profession. At inception, the NTC sought refuge from the primary school infrastructure for a couple of years before the Government provided funds for construction.
Hyuha says Obbo-Makola convinced students in Senior Six in Bukedi region to join the institution, in an effort to increase the number of teachers.
Moses Ochic, a member of the pioneer staff with Obbo-Makola remembers working under strained conditions because there was inadequacy of instructional materials.
When resources had started trickling in from the ministry, Obbo-Makola, together with the lecturers and board members, would share ideas on priorities, basing on the urgency at hand.
From 40 pioneer diploma teachers in 1983, by 2007, the annual graduands had shot up to 300 when he handed over the institution to Busitema University.
Makerere University don, Odoi Tanga, says at the height of intense hostility between the Jopadhola and the Iteso community over division of Tororo, in 2008, the late prime minister worked tirelessly to avoid blood shed.
The state minister in charge of northern Uganda, David Wakikona, also Obbo-Makola’s old boy at Nabumali High School, said as a youth, Makola won trophies in high jump.
Rebecca Achieng will miss the unreserved compassion that her father offered them. “What interested a child became his priority. When I wanted to become a fashion designer, he did not hesitate. I will miss him,†she muttered as she broke down.
Gabriel Obbo-Katandi, an educationist and a minister in the kingdom, said Obbo-Makola combined culture and Christianity, giving him constant leadership. He noted that as a director of the NTC, discipline, diligence and honesty were a great pillar in his success as an administrator.
“As a teacher, he combined professionalism and commitment, making him a role model for young teachers. As a Canon, he preached what was practical which made him a suitable Church leader.â€
Obbo-Katandi believes these attributes placed him as a key player in the development of education and the cultural institution.
“I feel sad losing my premier and an inspiring colleague in the education profession.