Fare-thee-well Okeny: The Vitafoam brand master

Many well-wishers and mourners have said Okeny’s counsel will be missed. FILE PHOTO

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At its peak, Vitafoam employed as many as 300-400 workers and ran a housing estate until it slid into receivership between 2001 and 2002.

The last of the founding pillars of Vitafoam mattresses has died. And rightly, Ugandans in their hundreds took to social media to celebrate the passing of Uganda’s industrial icon and entrepreneur. Mzee Justin Bitek Okeny, aka Vitafoam, passed on Saturday evening at International Hospital in Kampala.
Okeny, one of Uganda’s home-grown industrialists, can only be spoken of in the same breath as luminary James Mulwana, who created top-of-head household brand names. Like Nice plastics are synonymous with Mulwana (RIP), Vitafoam became Okeny’s nom de guerre. Such was Okeny; an entrepreneur and industrialist par excellence.
Okeny’s was an entrepreneurial journey that started out in 1970s.

From humble beginnings, Okeny and partner Jack Dwonga went on to build a household name – vitafoam. And fittingly for many, Vitafoam was appended to Okeny’s and Dwonga’s names owing to a much loved brand they built and will endure for a long time. And befittingly, Vitafoam in its heydays was interchangeably used to mean foam mattress as much as Omo is used to refer to laundry powder. Nearly every student who went to school in 1970s, 80s, and 90s, inescapably had to use Vitafoam cushions and mattresses. And such was the unrivalled brand of Vitafoam in schools and homes.
At its peak, Vitafoam employed as many as 300-400 workers and ran a housing estate until it slid into receivership between 2001 and 2002. This backbreaking 13 months of downturn saw Okeny and Dwonga sell off most of the housing units and other properties in Njeru-Jinja.

Okeny’s and Dwonga’s road to Vitafoam commenced in 1974 when the duo, through Uganda Industrial Properties Ltd (UIPL), struck up 50/50 franchise to manufacture foam cushions and mattresses with UK’s British Vita, a public limited company. They incorporated Vitafoam Uganda Ltd before Vita pulled out in 1989. Unimpeded, Okeny and Dwonga rode on to create more subsidiaries, including Gulu foam, and Star Garments.
Okeny also individually created Star Building, Construction, and Engineering, and Patiko Mixed Farm. At the peak of his business ventures, Okeny threaded yarn into fabrics, stocked his farm with 1,800 herd, including 800 high Boran cattle, and opened up 1,200 acres under crop. He also introduced rice and maize hullers for his farm and neighbouring communities. Lamentably, all these endeavours were doomed in the insurgency years from 1986.

Challenges bring down hard work
So Okeny and partner’s periods of greatest prosperity were not without challenges. Their dreams to site Gulu foam in northern Uganda, as was the dreams of Fr. John Scalabrini to locate Bishop Cipriano Kihangire S.S. in Gulu was frustrated by the outbreak of the northern Uganda war.
Okeny and Dwonga set up Gulu foam in Bukaya in Njeru-Jinja in the proximity of the Vitafoam plant.

As Vitafoam slipped from Okeny’s and co-founders control, other new foam cushions and mattresses brands blossomed but without the same esteem Vitafoam enjoyed. Nonetheless, the new brands quickly snapped up both the market and experienced and technical expertise from Vitafoam.
At the peak of its productivity, and raking Shs1 billion per month, it remains to be told just how Vitafoam went under in 2001. But not all is lost for Vitafoam, the pioneer producers of high quality foam cushions and mattresses. Okeny’s and Dwonga’s legacy will live on.

Their trademark –Vitafoam – can only be held by UIPL. And Mr James Okeny, one of Okeny’s sons, is optimistic Vitafoam will get up, run, and dominate again, thanks to their link up with and financial muscle from Kenya-based firm Ndovu, which now holds majority shares in Vitafoam. Ndovu also has interests in both Kinyara and Hoima sugar plants.
Such was the life and times of Okeny, a Ugandan entrepreneur and industrialist, who lived unrivalled in his league. Like manufacturing icon Mulwana, he was founder member of Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA). And it will be such memories of his rare industry that will see Ugandans flock to honour him as his remains come to his residence in Muyenga, an upscale Kampala city suburb, on May 11.

Many more wellwishers will come to pray for repose of Okeny’s soul at Mbuya Catholic Church on May 12. Okeny was a devout Catholic, who in 1975, took pilgrimage to the Holy See in Vatican, Rome, and Israel; the birthplace of Christianity. He also served on the board on Catholic Martyrs University, Nkozi.
Even more home crowds will come to bid him farewell at Holy Rosary Church in Gulu Town on May 13.
In his 82 years, his son James says Okeny adopted children into the family, sponsored students both at home and abroad and paid dowry for more than 100 relatives and non-relatives. So when his remains arrive at his ancestral home at Lukome, Aswa County on May 14, such will be part of mourners who will remember Okeny’s big heart.

Okeny, therefore, departs a man who lived life to its fullest as a monumental entrepreneur, wealth creator, and benefactor with a wide range of friends. Such was Okeny’s go-get business acumen and social enterprise, which spoke of focus, hard work, love and kindness that built an abiding brand Vitafoam.
Okeny’s unparalleled legacy now rests on the shoulders of his two widows, 25 children, and 53 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren to carry on.
Fare-thee-well Okeny Vitafoam.

Facebook messages

Ventorino Otto. A passing of a monumental symbol: A towering figure of generosity, care and hard work. As we passed through school, in every class and school, there was a child at school courtesy of Mzee’s open hand! Go now and rest in total peace.

Odoobo Charles Bichachi. Last year, we featured Mzee Okeny in Daily Monitor’s compilation of the top 100 Ugandans. It was only a little honour we could bestow on a monumental entrepreneur who produced one of few Ugandan products of world class standard - Vitafoam. Rest in peace, Mzee Okeny!

Geoffrey Okello Anyewar. A household name in Uganda. Who has never heard of Okeny Vitafoam. Rest in peace Mzee.

Stephen Bwire. What a shame! He was among the very few indigenous industrialists and entrepreneur, my condolences to Okello Okeny and siblings.

Lominda Afedraru. My friends from Kenya love using Vitafoam matress because of its classical quality, RIP mzee.
Stephen Leslie Odong. I heard so many wonderful stories of him and the friendship he shared with my father. He will be missed.

Tabu Butagira. He lived a world of his own league as a Ugandan entrepreneur and industrialist. I’m curious how Vitafoam went under, away from the speculations. Go ye with pride into they the land of our ancestors, Mzee Okeny.

William Ongom Olara. Ladit Justin, rest in eternal peace... You and Dwonga built a household name - VITAFOAM, a legacy that shall endure for a very long time. I was privileged to know your business and managerial prowess through my CO-MC (during Jinja-Acholi get together parties/function), Sam Okeny (RIP).

Okio Olal. RIP Mzee! A business legend has gone! His counsel shall be missed.

Vera Oling. RIP Mzee Okeny. Actually vitafoam became your last name owing to your innovative brand. We shall continue with your legacy to INDUSTRIALISE AFRICA.

Komakec Norbert Obonyo. It is a painful 2016, may the Almighty comfort the family, relatives and friends of the late Mzee Okeny (RIP).

Moses Akena. Great entrepreneur and development oriented man he was. May his soul find rest in eternity.

Ojwiya Francis Kitara. Mzee lived a good life, inspired and helped thousands of Ugandans by touching lives of many. May the good Lord rest his soul in a better place.

Tentative programme
May 11, 2016.The body will be taken to his home in Muyenga.
May 12, 2016 requiem Mass in Mbuya church after which the body proceeds to Gulu and stay overnight in town.
May 13, 16. Prayers at Holy Rosary Church and body taken to Lukome.
May 14, 16 prayer in Lukome and burial.