Early Life
Mr. Isidore Onyango was born to Anderia Okwir and Elizabeth Abbo of Tindo Village, Kirewa Sub-County, West Budama County, Tororo District, on 24th September 1934. He was the 7th born out of 13 children. He was a member of the Nyapolo Ranga clan.
Education
He went to Kirewa Primary School, Nyondo Teachers’ College for Grade II Teaching Certificate and Ngora Teachers’ College for Grade III Teaching Certificate.
Work
He taught Mathematics and Science at Siwa, Soni, Merekit, Osia, Achilet, Mahanga, and Poyem primary schools between 1958 and 1977, before being appointed Headteacher of Iyolwa Primary School in 1978. He will be remembered as a diligent and hardworking educationist who worked tirelessly and good performance followed him wherever he worked. Iyolwa Primary School reached its best ever PLE performance during his time. For example, in 1983 more than half the PLE candidates of Iyolwa Primary School passed in Division 1, the best of them scoring Aggregate 5 for 4 subjects. For a rural school, that was an outstanding performance. In the same year, the 15th best performer countrywide in the Uganda Mathematics Contest came from Iyolwa Primary School.
In 1987, he was appointed sub-country chief, Kirewa sub-county, Tororo district. He was later transferred to Iyolwa sub-county, where he served until retirement.
In his retirement he taught Science at St. James Preparatory School Achilet.
Social Life
He had had 9 sons (seven surviving) and seven daughters (six surviving). He saw 72 grandchildren and 36 great grandchildren.
In his youthful years he played football and pole vaulting. Throughout his years as headteacher, he ensured school children had opportunity to participate in sports, for example by providing adequate time.
He participated in politics as a supporter of the Democratic Party (DP) in the early 1980s and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) from the late 1980s until he passed on. Severally, he put his life at risk because of standing firm on what was right on community issues.
He loved telling educative stories that left the listeners informed, inspired and entertained. No wonder, people liked to congregate around him. Even in his retirement, people from near and far often came to his home to talk to him.
As a farmer, he loved keeping cattle and poultry as well as growing various crops. The proceeds from farming supplemented his salary, to enable him educate children under his care, including those of his relatives.
Contribution to the community
Mr. Onyango always provided leadership in society. Service was above self wherever he was.
Apart from improving the academic standards of schools, he always mobilized children in his community to go to school. He always provided career guidance to young people and as a result, many people went to school because of him. In education he led by example, for instance his children were the first in three adjacent villages to get a university degree.
Aside from education, Mr. Onyango often provided leadership and service in Church. He donated a half-acre piece of land, about 500m from his home, where St. Joseph Catholic Sub-parish, Ngetta is currently being constructed. While he was still able-bodied, at any one time he was on one Church committee or another.
Final Journey
Mr. Isidore Onyango went to be with the Lord on 9th January 2023 after nearly 20 years of being in and out of hospital due to high blood pressure, heart ailments and stroke.
He is being laid to rest on 14th January 2023 but his legacy lives on.
Eternal rest grant unto him o Lord, and let your perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.
There is a requiem mass at St. Francis- Yiolwa Catholic Parish on today, 12th January 2023 starting at 3:00pm, followed by vigil at his home in Yiolwa Town Council.
Burial will take place at their ancestral home in Ngetta C Ward, Yiolwa Town Council, Tororo District on Saturday, 14th January 2023 starting with a mass at 11:00am
Informed are:
Relatives, Friends and In-laws.
MAY HIS SOUL REST IN ETERNAL PEACE
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