By David Okema
The family of the late Michael Odong, the ministry of Agriculture official who passed on Sunday at Schipol Airport in the Netherlands have said they are still shocked by the news of his death.
News of the death of the Odong who was en-route to Geneva in Switzerland started trickling in social media platforms in Uganda on Tuesday morning.
Media reports say the late Odong left Entebbe International Airport aboard a KLM flight on Saturday morning to Geneva via Schiphol International Airport in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He was however found dead in Schiphol.
The Dutch embassy in Uganda has said a postmortem report indicates Odong died of ‘‘natural’’ causes.
The late Odong’s brother, Alfred Okumu, a Chemistry teacher and Director of Studies at St Joseph’s College Layibi told Acholi Times that the family is in shock.
“We shall ever remember him as kind, generous, and also loving. He was ever bringing unity in the family. We thank him very much for the hard work he gave in the ministry of Agriculture. There is no much we can do now, we wait for his burial,” a grieved Okumu told Acholi Times.
Okumu said the late Odong was not of recently sick but said the late had on and off Mulago hospital for medical treatment. He did not specify what the late Odong was treated for at Mulago hospital.
The deceased had lost his wife in January this year, the family said.
Who was Odong?
The late Odong was the son of the late John Oryem of Alokolum in Gulu district. His mother was Dorothea Laker, the daughter of Chief Olya of the Atiak Chiefdom in Atiak Kal in now Amuru district.
Among his age mates, his family said, the late Odong was known as ‘‘Gumi.’’ He was born in 1963 from the family’s home at Kirombe, Custom corner in Layibi division in Gulu municipality.
Odong started his studies at St. Joseph primary school in Gulu but sat his primary leaving examinations from Hoima district.
He sat for his Uganda Certificate of Education from Gulu High School in 1979 before joining Aga Khan High School in Kampala for his Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education where has pass highly.
The deceased later joined Makerere University where graduated with a Bachelor’s degree of science in Agriculture about 1986.
After Makerere, Odong worked at Kawanda Research Station in Wakiso before joining the Ministry of Agriculture.
He also held a Masters in Food and Nutrition from Australia.
He was the 6th born out of 12 siblings, three girls and nine boys.
At the time of his death Odong was the as assistant commissioner in charge of Crop Protection and Certification. He had worked for 15 years in the ministry of Agriculture, according to family members.
The late Odong is survived by two sons, one still at Makerere university while the other has already graduated from the same university.
The deceased has a home in Kawanda in Wakiso district and another home in Lower Churchil Drive in Senior Quarters in Gulu town. He will be laid to rest on a yet-to- be known date at his ancestral home in Kirombe village just outside of Gulu town.
