Family announces funeral arrangements for Prof. Okello Oculi
The family of the late Prof Okello Oculi, a distinguished Ugandan scholar, poet, novelist, and pan-Africanist, have announced his funeral arrangements. A statement by the family said the funeral is to honour the remarkable life and legacy of Professor Oculi who passed away on July 26, 2025, in Abuja, at the age of 82, leaving […]
Ex-Daily Trust Editorial Board member, Professor Okello Oculi, dies at 83
The family of the late Prof Okello Oculi, a distinguished Ugandan scholar, poet, novelist, and pan-Africanist, have announced his funeral arrangements.
A statement by the family said the funeral is to honour the remarkable life and legacy of Professor Oculi who passed away on July 26, 2025, in Abuja, at the age of 82, leaving behind an indelible mark on African intellectual, literary, and political spheres,
It said the funeral will start with an Online Session of Tributes for global online session for friends, former associates, and admirers to share tributes and reflections on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at 7pm.
“A Service of Songs will take place on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at The Cathedral Church of the Advent, Lifecamp, Abuja, celebrating Professor Oculi’s life through music and shared memories. The Funeral Service will be held on Friday, August 22, 2025, at The Cathedral Church of the Advent, Lifecamp, Abuja at 10am, followed by interment at Gudu Cemetery.
Biography of Professor Oculi
Born in 1942 in Dokolo District, Northern Uganda, Okello Oculi was a towering figure in African academia, literature and pan-Africanism. Educated at Soroti College, St. Peter’s College Tororo, and St. Mary’s College Kisubi, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Makerere University in 1967, with a year as an exchange student at Stanford University (1964–1965). He bagged an MSc in Arts from University of Essex in 1968. He later pursued a PhD in Political Science at the University of Wisconsin, USA, under a Rockefeller Foundation Scholarship. Choosing Nigeria over a return to Idi Amin’s Uganda in 1977, Professor Oculi spent 48 years in Nigeria, becoming a beloved figure in its academic and intellectual communities with a Special Immigration status. He served as a Professor of Social and Economic Research at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria and later as a private political and social consultant in Abuja through the Africa Vision 525 Initiative. He was a long-serving member of the Daily Trust Editorial Board, shaping its pan-African editorial direction with historical insight and intellectual rigor.
Literary contributions
A prolific writer, Oculi’s works, including Orphan (1968), Prostitute (1968), Kanta Riti (1973), Malak (1976), Kookolem (1978), Nigerian Alternatives (1987), Discourses on African Affairs (1997), Song for the Sun in Us; Orphan 2;1 and Banana Man (2024), blended satire, folklore, and socio-political critique, capturing the struggles and aspirations of post-independence Africa. His writing championed African values and critiqued European imitations.
Pan-African advocacy
A committed pan-Africanist, Oculi worked tirelessly to promote African unity. In the last six months of his life, he focused on a book project about Diallo Telli, the first Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), and sought to establish a Diallo Telli Prize for African diplomats, seeking support from the Dangote Foundation.
Journalistic impact
As a member of the Daily Trust Editorial Board for nearly a decade, he enriched discussions on African issues. He was instrumental in the Daily Trust’s “African of the Year” project, notably recognizing Congolese gynecologist Denis Mukwege. He contributed articles to international and Nigerian publications, including West Africa, Le Monde Diplomatique, The Guardian, and Vanguard. He played a role as a member of the editorial board of ThisDay and was currently a weekly contributing writer on their opinion page.