Vitafoam Founder Mzee Okeny Eulogized

Gulu district councilors on Wednesday paid tribute to Mzee Justine Bitek Okeny aka ”Vitafoam” at the District council hall in Gulu town where his body was taken for public viewing.

Mzee Okeny 82, a founding member of Vitafoam Uganda Ltd, the manufacturers of Vitafoam Mattresses, succumbed to Prostate cancer on Saturday 30 April at the International Hospital Kampala.

His body was received in Gulu Municipality Wednesday afternoon by a crowed of hundreds of people comprised of the business community, friends and district leaders who escorted his body to the Gulu Local Government district council hall.

At the district council hall, councilors praised the fallen business icon describing him as an entrepreneur who was passionate about the development of not only his Acholi region but the country at large.

Majority of the councilors proposed that Mzee Okeny’s portrait be put on the district council hall wall while others proposed that a road in Gulu municipality be named after him.

Mr Alfred Okwonga, the LCV Councilor Pece Division said Mzee Okeny left behind a legacy that should be taught to the growing generation and business community. He proposed that a Public lecture should be inaugurated for Mzee Okeny to give opportunity for those who didn’t know about the businessman to learn about him.

Gulu District LCV Chairperson Mr Martin Ojara Mapenduzi said Mzee Okeny was a person who not only loved his own children and relatives but sacrificed for everyone who approached saying people of
Okeny’s caliber are hard to get.

“Despite being a business man, Mzee Okeny was friendly and social, but majority of business men in the district nowadays are very selfish and greedy. I task you (the Business community) to live a life Okeny lived while doing business,” Mr Mapenduzi said.

Mr Mapenduzi however appealed to the government to recognize some of the outstanding personalities from Acholi sub-region who passed on arguing few have been recognized by the sitting government.

A requiem mass will be held for Mzee Okeny at Holy Rosary Church in Gulu Town on Friday before his body is laid to rest at his ancestral home in Lukome village in Aswa County on Saturday 14.