Former MP Stephen Okello Ojok to be laid to rest

BURIAL ARRANGMENTS

DOKOLO- Burial for the late former MP Mzee Stephen Okello Ojok, 88, will take place on Saturday at Bata Village, Dokolo District.

Ojok, who won an election seat for Lira North East in 1980, passed on Sunday at Nsambya Hospital at 6:00pm where he was rushed to by the family.

Birth

Ojok was a second born to Imat Milyeri and Ibrahim Ojok in Bata in 1930 Dokolo District. He attended Aloi Primary school, Ngora High and was admitted for a paramedical course at Makerere University in the earlier 1950's before proceeding for further studies in UK.

Political life

While in UK he showed interest in the British politics and stood as Labour party candidate in Surbiton, Surrey in 1959 and he remained in Parliament up to 1963. He was the first black in Labour Party to win a seat.

By the time Uganda got political independence he was yet to finish his term with the Labour party constituency.

He returned to home in 1963 having also worked in different hospitals in UK.

He was deployed in several hospitals including Kitgum and Soroti up to 1966. In 1967 to 1968 he served in the office of the President.

East Africa Railways

In 1968 he was named the Chairman of the East Africa Railways and Harbours by the three presidents of East African member states as candidate brought by Uganda and his office was based in Nairobi.

Exile

After the overthrow of the first UPC government in 1971 he did not return to Uganda for fear of his life. He settled in Arusha in Tanzania and established a Confectionary called Arusha Bakery.

He employed a number of Ugandans who fled  to  exile in Tanzania. He made contribution politically and in kind to the liberation struggle which removed Idi Amin's regime.

Bakery

After  the liberation war he returned home in 1980 but the bakery remained in operation.  He stood for MP in the general election 1980 in Lira North East and won unopposed but later lost in an appeal repeat election to Hon Dr.Obua (Jerrican).

He was appointed Chairman of Uganda Railways Corporation shortly after the election.

Church building

He founded Bata Secondary School; he built a Church house on his land, St Stephen Church which he handed over  to the Anglican Church of Uganda. It was received by the then Bishop of Lango Diocese Rt Rev Odur Kami in 2007.

Mzee lived a great legacy life well known in Lango  sub region, nationally, regionally and overseas. He was a silent hero, a pride not only to his clan of Atek Opayat but to us the Langi.

Celebration

On his send off to go study in UK, as it was a celebration in Lango.  There was a big ceremony held in Bata sub county headquarters and the chief guest was The Rwot Adwong Yakobo Adoko who travelled from Lira in a deep black glittering limousine.

It was a big ceremony as all the Langi students and Lango Local Government leadership and a white district Commissioner took their seats at the function. He was blessed with children and grand- children many living in Europe.