Moses Olemakun (RIP)
The Bishop of Kumi Diocese, Rt. Rev. Michael Okwi Esakan has said that Teso has lost a leader who fought corruption and led the path of development in his district.
In his condolence message after the demise of Moses Olemukan, the Bukedea District Chairperson, Bishop Esakan said that he was deeply agonized by the demise of Olemukan.
“We appeal for calm and sobriety among our people. We heard the sad news of his death while in Kachumbala for a pastoral wedding visit. We pray for serenity and fortitude among the family, clan and Ikidia (people of Bukedea)”, he said in a message.
While on his sick bed in October, Olemukan oversaw the transition in the District Health Office where the new DHO, Dr. Emmanuel Odeke had been locked out of office for months. Through the members of the District Executive Committee, Olemukan tasked the district to give the job to the new officer who had been appointed. He said that the district would suffer charges if the recruited official ran to court. Bukedea had had more than ten years without substantive DHO.
Bishop Esakan adds that Olemukan was clear about the path of development that he wanted Bukedea to follow. “He shall be greatly missed. We pray that he rests in peace with his Lord and Saviour (Luke 23: 43)”, his message ends.
In 2019, Olemukan came to the rescue of more 1,000 people who had been evicted from Amujeju Village. Olemukan helped the affected residents who suffered looting, torture and sexual abuses to access justice in Soroti High Court, According Alfred Edeke, one of the petitioners in the case.
The Serere District Chairperson, Stephen Ochola says that Teso has lost a very hardworking, trusted and an impartial leader who served with an open heart. “Olemukan was open and straight forward. He spoke the truth and stood respected his people regardless of their political ideologies”, he said.
The Bukedea Resident District Commissioner, Hajji Imran Muluga has described the fallen district leader as a political mentor who selflessly shared knowledge and provided guidance to both politicians and technocrats in the district.
“Hon. Olemukan was an accomplished district chairman of the mighty Bukedea District. He was a master of the nit grits in the entire district. He had concretized the positive aspects of decentralization. Indeed, he was a true servant of the people. He was a hero in life, in sickness and death. To the people of Bukedea in his public appearance, he gave them a gift of unity. We shall mourn day till morning. Rest thee well our dear friend”, his message reads.
In January 2022, Olemukan was seen with members of the community demanding for justice over the death of two suspects in Bukedea Police Station. He was later arrested and charged alongside five others for the murder of Francis Opolot, whose death caused the arrest of suspects who were killed in Police cells.
When he was released later on bail, Olemukan was taken ill and taken to various health facilities in the country including Mulago National Referral Hospital. His condition, however, deteriorated and he was flown to Nairobi Hospital after he was diagnosed with the cancer of the liver in October.
Olemukan has since been undergoing chemotherapy of the liver from Nairobi Hospital, according to Samuel Musoke, the Councilor representing workers at Bukedea District Council. He died on Saturday at Mulago Cancer Institute where he was rushed on Saturday morning for treatment, according to the Bukedea County MP, John Bosco Ikojo.
Ikojo told our reporter that Olemukan returned from Nairobi last week where he was undergoing treatment. “He was stable when he returned and we were hopeful that he would be able to recover after all the treatment”, Ikojo said on phone.
Before becoming the district chairperson of Bukedea where he was serving his second term, Olemukan was the Bukedea Sub County Chairperson for two terms. He also served as the youth councilor and has been in business.
Olemukan, 48, is a member of the ruling National Resistance Movement who comes from Akuoro Village in Bukedea Sub County. In 2021 general elections, Olemukan lost the NRM flag to the former RDC, William Tukei. But Olemukan bounced back on an independent ticket and defeated the NRM giant (Tukei) who sought re- election for the same seat he lost to Olemukan in 2016.
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