By Annet Nakanwagi,
OBITUARY:
The remains of former Victoria University, Kampala Dean Faculty of Public Health Sciences, Prof. Stephen Opio Lawoko have been flown to Gulu City in Northern Uganda ahead of funeral on Saturday.
Prof. Lawoko, passed on December 28 last year, in Sweden where he has been living.
“Victoria University is deeply saddened by the passing of our former Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof. Stephen Lawoko. You will forever live on in the hearts of your students, faculty members and the entire VU family.” Victoria University announced on December 29, 2021.
His body was earlier on Friday airlifted to Uganda for burial which is slated for tomorrow (Saturday) January 15, 2022 in Gulu City.
A decent and wonderful man who touched the lives of many as tributed to by the Victoria University Vice Chancellor, Prof Lawrence Muganga, Lawoko succumbed to Pancreatic Cancer which he had been battling with since last year.
Prof Lawoko was a former student of St. Mary’s College, Kisubi (SMACK) for his O’level and he studied A’level at Caltec Academy.
After High School, he went to Sweden for his higher education in 1989.
“He completed a MSc. in Statistics at Linkoping University, and a PhD and Associate Professorship in Public Health at the world re-known Karolinska Institute, where he served for 13 years.
He served as dean of faculty at Victoria University and later as an associate professor of public health in the department of public health at Gulu University.
A source said that the deceased has also been working with a University in Sweden.
Prof. Lawoko’s significance can be felt in his more than 65 research papers published in world-class research journals including topics on the COVID-19 pandemic, HIV/Aids, teenage pregnancy, stunting in children, nutrition of salaried bank workers in Kampala and domestic violence.
Ambrose Byamugisha, the Managing Director of Ambrosoli Consultant Uganda LTD, who worked with the deceased at Victoria University described him as a diligent man.
“I served with Prof lawoko Stephen at Victoria University, Kampala, he was a very great man with diligence. I thank God for his life. May his soul rest in peace,” Byamugisha ulogised.
