JINJA — The Uganda scouts fraternity are mourning the passing of their National Executive Commissioner Richard Okello who succumbed to kidney failure at Kiruddu Hospital on Thursday morning.
Speaking to our reporter on telephone, the Assistant Chief Commissioner of the Uganda Scouts Association, David Muledhu, paid a glowing tribute to the deceased as a man who has worked tirelessly to grow the association.
“He has served for 15 years at the helm of the national scouts body and has seen the number of scouts in the country grow from a paltry 500 to over 1 million currently,” Muledhu said.
Muledhu revealed to this website that the deceased has for long battled kidney problems and was meant to travel to India for kidney transplant but that the plan was swatted by the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak.
“ He was supposed to fly out for a kidney transplant but when Covid-19 struck, the plan was aborted. He later reverted to Kiruddu hospital where he has been hospitalized for some time until his death this morning,” Muledhu said.
He said the deceased has turned Uganda into the leading country in scouting in the whole of Africa and has also been at the fore front of linking Uganda to the leading scouting countries of the world.
Daniel Pamba, a former scouts captain, says the deceased was so welcoming and liked children a lot.
“I remember the last time we went to Kazi, he treated us so well and was willing to give freely whatever he had,” Pamba said.
He said the deceased will be remembered for his undaunted fight to save Kazi land which was being sought by land grabbers.
“He put up a spirited fight to save Kazi land and this is an indelible mark he has left for the scouts and scouts lovers,” Pamba said.
Okello will also be remembered for initiating development projects aimed at solving the plight of the citizens.
“He initiated a coffee project aimed at improving the livelihoods of the people as well as a water protection project to deliver safe water to the citizens,” Muledhu said.
The late Okello is survived by a wife and four children — three boys and one girl. He will be buried at his ancestral home in Amuria District on Sunday.
Burial programme
Today, May 12, 2022- Body laying at Kazi National Training and Camping ground
May 13, 2022 – Requiem mass at Watoto Church Bweyogerere and there after the body will spend night at his home in Bweyogerere
May 14, 2022 -Body taken to his upcountry home in Soroti from where it will depart to Amuria
May 15, 2022 – Burial in Amuria at 3pm
