Ongom: Hundreds eulogise Uneb’ s luminary

Kampala. If the turn up of mourners depicts how a person was loved, then one would not be wrong to say former Uganda National Examinations (Uneb) executive secretary, David Livingstone Ongom, was more than loved.
By 10am, All Saints Church in Nakasero, Kampala, had been filled to capacity with mourners of all ages turning up for Ongom’s funeral service. Majority of the grieved were his former students at Lango College, National Teachers’ College, now Kyambogo University, and workmates from the different offices he held in his lifetime.
The current Uneb executive secretary, Mr Dan Odongo, said Ongom was an incorruptible person, who never used his leadership positions to accumulate personal wealth.
Mr Odongo said as Uneb workers, they often work hard to emulate his virtues of hard work, openness and transparent leadership since they do not want to soil what he laboured to establish.
Citing an example of an incident where Ongom blasted a Makerere University fellow, who was faulting Uneb on every slight mistake, Mr Odongo said Ongom was a person who hated self-aggrandisement.
Dr Charles Owana, one of Ongom’s former students, said the deceased was a person who did whatever was possible to make all students excel. Dr Owana said his former teachers never described students as dull or bright, but believed in all students’ capacity to become responsible people in future.
“We had a friend who had issues with Physics. He sat him down and used the simplest methods to help him grasp Physics,” Dr Owana said.
Ongom’s childhood friend, George Obua, said he was a non-sectarian person who embraced friendship beyond regions and borders. Mr Obua eulogised his departed comrade as a great person who spoke less, but did much.
“He was a mentor, not selfish and was a representative of values of independence, honesty, kindness and sincerity,” he said.
Ongom’s widow, Ms Catherine Angwech, children and grandchildren, spoke about Ongom as a person who loved his family and a disciplinarian.
“I visited the hospital and he held my hand. He tried to speak to me but he failed. Daddy died with my message and it is sad that I will never get to know it,” Ms Anne Abeja, Ongom’s daughter, said.
Ongom leaves behind a widow, five children and three grandchildren. He will be laid to rest on Saturday in Apala, Alebtongo District.
A vigil will be held today at Kirombe Parish in Lira District and another funeral service at St Augustine Bar Ogole Cathedaral tomorrow.
Several dignitaries, including retired Uneb executive secretary Mathew Bukenya, Education Ministry Permanent Secretary Alex Kakooza, MPs and professors all attended the funeral service.