Panic as prominent West Nile elders succumb to COVID-19

Oct 23, 2020

District health officers say the trend is worrying and have urged the public to follow the health ministry's SOP guidelines. 

In a space of just about two weeks, five prominent elders have succumbed to COVID-19 in the West Nile region. Their death has caused panic among the population, raising fresh fears about the pandemic.  

Charles Yangu



Charles Yangu (Prominent Businessman, and Commercial farmer) 

Charles Yangu died at the age of 60 at Arua Regional Referral Hospital. Yangu owned commercial buildings in Koboko town and was a progressive commercial farmer with one of the largest fish ponds in Koboko district, which attracted the attention of several individuals. He was profiled by Vision Group in the Best Farmer campaign early March this year. Yangu also served as the chairperson of the land board for Koboko municipal council.  

According to one of his sons, Stephen Wadri, his father previously had no serious ailment. Yangu is survived by 18 children and two wives. 

Hajji Abas Do'Do



Hajji Abas 'Do'Do Ojale, (Councilor for Elderly and prominent businessman) 

Hajji Abas Do'Do Ojale, who was councillor for the elderly in Koboko North Division at the time of his death and owned businesses in Koboko Municipality, died on the night of October 15, 2020 after he was referred from Arua regional Referral Hospital Treatment Unit to Mulago Hospital. 

Hajji Abas was the father of Medina Naham, the NRM National Financial Administrator; and Ropani Sauda, the executive director of Partner in Community Transformation-PICOT, a nongovernmental organisation in west Nile. 

"My dad was sick for five days. When we took him the hospital, he was stable and was able to walk on his own, but he started getting breathing problems, which prompted doctors to get his samples for testing, and the results came back positive for COVID-19," his daughter Ropani Sauda told New Vision. 

Hajji Abas' condition deteriorated after tests carried showed he had developed Hypertension, high sugar levels and heart problems; all conditions he had not experienced before, according his daughter. 

Hajji Abas Do‘Do, who was on oxygen at Arua Hospital, was referred to Mulago Hospital where he died. 

Many describe him as a role model parent, opinion leader, educationist, an entrepreneur and contributor to local community projects, especially in the Muslim community. 

He was also referred to as a development-oriented person who has left great legacy in Koboko district. 

Kefa Amako (Former Principal of Arua Core PTC) 

Amako Kefa Ochia, who served as Principal of Arua Core PTC died on October 16 and was laid to rest on October 17 in Alikua sub-county, Maracha district. 

Keffa was admitted at Arua Hospital with hypertension. However, a Covid-19 test carried out on him came back positive. He is described as an educationist who has contributed to the education of many people in the West Nile region.

Isha Butiga

 

Isha Butiga (retired headteacher)  

Isha Butiga, a retired headteacher in Yumbe district died on October 13 at the age of 61, after receiving treatment from a private facility. 

He was a professional teacher who upgraded from classroom teacher to deputy and then headteacher. He retired in 2019. 

In the 35 years of his work, he produced many leaders in the district. 

Butiga served in a number of primary schools such Mengo, Kumuna, Oluba and Lamgba. He retired from Swinga Islamic Primary School. He lived most of his life in Ukanga Cell, Areguyi ward Yumbe town council in Yumbe. 

While at Mengo Primary School in Yumbe, he spearheaded the planting of 12 acres of the tick tree for the school and several other type of trees. 

According to Drasi Majid, the chairman of Mengo Primary School, the school now entirely relies on the forest to generate internal funds for the school. After his Death, samples were collected and came back positive for COVID-19. He is survived by a widow and six children. 

Wawa Yahaya Udaya 

Wawa Yahaya Udawa, 71, who lived in Langi village, Gojuru parish Kuru sub-county, in Yumbe district tested positive and was taken to Mulago National Referral Hospital, where he died of Covid-19. 

Wawa was a renowned local farmer and also popular bicycle repairer at Kuru trading centre, where he settled after migrating from the then Arua Town, now City. He is survived by three widows. 

With the loss of such elderly persons, the Yumbe District Health officer, Dr Alfred Yayi; and the Arua District Health Officer, Paul Bishop Drileb, have urged the public to follow the Ministry of Health guidelines and standard operating procedures, saying the trend of community infections is worrying and must be curtailed.  

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});