Counsel Okiot laid to rest amidst tears

Bukedea: Thousands of people turned up in large numbers to bid the final farewell to the fallen lawyer Raphael Okiot.

Counsel Okiot was laid to rest at his parent’s ancestral home in Sebei village, Kadesok parish, Komuge Sub County, Bukedea district, on Saturday, April 20, 2024.

Okiot died on April 17, 2024, in a road accident on the Nkumba-Entebbe road after a truck belonging to Zeyani’s family rammed into his vehicle as he was on his way to Entebbe for official duty.

Okiot’s life ended on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at the age of 34.

The late was born on January 9, 1990, and obtained his educational career at Nswanjere Seminary, where he studied from primary one to primary seven. He later joined Kisubi Seminary for the ‘O’ level, then joined Mbale College for the advanced level, and finally joined Uganda Christian University Mukono for law, where he obtained a second-class upper.

The deceased also joined the law development center for diplomas and postgraduate degrees in law.

Afterwards, he joined to work with Haldes Advocates as a lawyer, as well as lecturing law at Uganda Christian University.

The deceased had two women and three children.

Counsel Tonny Tumukunde of Haldes Advocates, who represented Ugandan law society, said it took one and a half hours for the police to retrieve the body of the deceased from his car after the incident.

“We got shocked when we received information about our colleague’s dismissal. The people who were near the scene started calling the late phone contacts, but when we reached the scene, we couldn’t identify since all his cars were crashed by the truck. Police cannot cut his car at the scene because of the jam, and we were asked to toy his car to the nearby police station, which is when we managed to get his body,” said Mr. Tumukunde.

Tumukunde also added that the late has been a very good hardworking man, he was dedicated to his work, he loved his family, and he was a generous man.

“We know it’s a painful moment, but I don’t even know what to say. May the Lord grant him eternal life,”  said Tumukunde.

Mr. Peter Kayale, the late father-in-law, however, appealed to the government to implement proper use of road safety equipment.

“This would not have happened if road user safety equipment were implemented; now we have lost every important person at this tender age,”  said Kayale.

Mr. Charles Okei, the Ikatekok Isengora clan chairperson, said the government should intervene in order to ensure that the aggrieved family is compensated.

“This thing has happened to us, and we are mourning peacefully, but if it were to happen in other people’s homes, this mourning would not have taken place, so my appeal is to let the aggrieved family be looked on,”  said Mr. Okei.

Mr. Paul Aolio, the late father, said Okiot was the only son he produced with three sisters, of whom two have died now, leaving him with only one daughter.

“Fellow mourners, it’s too painful. Last year again, I lost my daughter; again this year, I lost my only son. Help me in your prayers, and I want to urge those who have the capacity of producing to produce,”  said Mr. Aolio.

However, because of the tying moments, both women were unable to communicate.

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