ALEX OCHIENO SYEGISA May 8, 2021

Parents: He was born to Father Wandera Syegisa and Mother Kodiva (Kodia) Nasiye.

Date & Place Of Birth: Alex was born on May 3, 1927 in Buyodi village, Lumino Sub County, Busia District.

Family: He was born in a family of seven (7) children; Five (5) boys and two (2) girls. He was the third (3rd) born in this family. Three of the siblings are still living.

Youth: He grew up in a traditional family set-up in Buyodi village, however, he also had a chance to stay with his maternal uncle in Siagani village where he got entangled in a relationship with a girl (Merisiana Namangale ) and consequently fathered his first born child named Betty Auma.

Education: He studied at Dabani Mission Primary School and was baptized as Alex Ochieno. He continued and joined Jinja Mill Hill school (now Jinja College) up to Junior two.

Spiritual Life: Mzee Alex Ochieno was a strong pillar in the Catholic Church. He played a pivotal role in the establishment of Bukobe Catholic out-station and construction of the current church building. He was the founding Chair of Laity until 2012 when he retired from active church leadership. His dear wife Awuleria Nafula Namulanda was the treasurer. Mr. Alex is known for his honesty and stewardship of church funds. Pilferage of church funds was anathema to him and he did not take kindly to any such acts. Parish Priests would find in Mzee Alex a reliable person, full of ideas and wisdom. They would consult with him on matters of Parish development and leadership.

Working Life And Marriage: His work life started with Rock Hotel Tororo under the Uganda Hotels. After a stint with Rock Hotel, Alex transferred to Crested Crane Hotel Jinja. Later on, he joined Kampala Club where he worked for a long time. He was again transferred to Grand Imperial
Hotel and later to Apollo Hotel (now Sheraton Hotel). He also had a stint at Silver Springs Hotel. While at Silver Springs, he was recalled by Governor Cohen to train hotel workers at Apollo Hotel. He spent his 1970s at Apollo Hotel which was renamed Kampala International Hotel.
Kampala International Hotel was closed in 1984 by the then Minister for Internal Affairs Luwaliza Kirunda in Obote II government due to financial crisis. He retired and returned home (Busia). Since then, he has lived in his ancestral home for 36 years.

Family Life: After completion of his studies at the level of Junior two and getting a job, Alex got betrothed and eventually wedded his first wife AULERIA NAFULA NAMULANDA (Deceased) at Dabani Mission Church in 1952. After the wedding, Alex bought a piece of land where he built a home in Tororo. He had nine (9) children with his first wife, one (1) passed on but eight (8) are still living. Alex Ochieno later married a second wife FELISTA NABWIRE NEKEKERE and they had two (2) children who are living. Following the death of his wedded wife AWULERIA NAFULA in August 2005, he married Juliet Akinyi (NAMAYINDI) in a colorful wedding dubbed the wedding of the century in 2008, and they have been blessed with three (3) children, a girl Mary Nangira (13 years) now in Primary 4 and 2 boys – David Wandera (8 years) in Primary 2 and Joseph Wafula (6 years) in Nursery.

Death: He lived to the ripe age of 94, with the last five (5) years in poor health.

Children: Auma Betty, Barasa John, Mugeni Alex, Anna Majera, Munoka Michael Richard, Scholastica Lyaka, Ogara Charles, Kevina Wabwire, Daudi Wandera, Nekesa Jacinta, Mayende George, Nanjala Esther Lucy, Nagira Mary, Wandera David and Joseph Wafula

Mzee Alex Ochieno is, therefore, succeeded by 14 children (alive), Forty-four (44) grandchildren thirty-six (36) great grandchildren and four (4) great great grandchildren.

SIBLINGS: Buluma Wandera, Federesi Makoha, Alex Ochieno, Bwonya Anderea, Ouma Isaac, Aguttu Teresa and Odwori Wandera.

Vigil will be held on Wednesday 5^th May 2021 at their residence Gonyi Close-Butto, Bweyogerere Municipality starting with mass.

There will be a Requiem Mass at Our Lady of Consolata Catholic Church Bweyogerere on Thursday 6^th May 2021 starting at 11:00am

Burial will take place on Saturday 8^th May 2021 at Namusenda Village,-Lumino Sub county, Busia District (burial site) starting at 12:00noon.