Teso Mourns Onapito Ekomoloit

Former Presidential Press Secretary, Francis Onapito Ekomoloit, is dead.

He was 56.

Onapito passed away at Kampala Hospital on Friday morning.

“On behalf of the Teso community and the country at large, I hereby announce with deep sadness and pain the demise of our brother Hon. Onapito Ekomoloit, a veteran journalist and former Member of Parliament for Amuria County… Further details will be communicated later,” Mike Mukula posted on X (formerly Twitter).

The family is yet to disclose the cause of Onapito’s death.

However, close associates of the deceased said he checked into hospital two weeks ago after complaining of severe abdominal pain.

It is reported doctors discovered Onapito had lung cancer. 

Onapito previously worked with The Monitor newspaper before serving as MP Amuria County during the 6th Parliament. 

President Museveni later appointed Onapito as his Press Secretary.

Onapito would later in 2006 move from State House to serve as Director of Legal and Corporate Affairs at Nile Breweries (NBL), a position he held for 17 years.

He retired from his position at UBL in 2023 but continued serving as the company’s Board Chairperson.

During his 17-year tenure as Director of Legal and Corporate Affairs, Onapito played a pivotal role in Nile Breweries’ development and triumphs. 

His dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment to excellence have been instrumental in shaping the company’s trajectory.  

Standing out are many CSR projects he initiated such as the Equality Scholarship which caters for 72 students from senior one to the University. 

Speaker of Parliament Anita Among hailed Onapito’s excellence.

“I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of our brother Onapito Ekomoloit,” said Among.

“He was a journalist of excellence, a former Press Secretary to the President, and a former MP. His honest and humble contributions to our country speak for themselves. My heartfelt sympathies go out to President Museveni, his family, friends, the press fraternity, the Nile Breweries family, and the Teso community. May his soul rest in peace.”

Mr. Ekomoloit’s Journey

The recently launched book, “Tears and Triumph,” chronicles Onapito Ekomoloit’s awe-inspiring journey from an impoverished community in Uganda’s North-Eastern region to national fame. 

Overcoming personal hardships, including the premature loss of his mother, Onapito displayed unwavering resilience and achieved remarkable success.

 Initially aspiring to be a lawyer, he charted a different course that led him to become a highly respected journalist.

Beyond his corporate achievements, Onapito maintained a strong connection to his roots in journalism, regularly engaging in Uganda’s media talk shows. 

His enigmatic nature and humility continued to captivate audiences, making him an influential figure in both corporate and media circles.