Our CPAR Uganda Board Chair, Prof. Christopher Garimoi Orach, with sorrow shared the sad news that his brother, Dr. Nicholas Gregory Okello (Phd), died and transitioned on 14^th January 2025.

The late Dr. Okello was a senior lecturer at Gulu University, working in the Department of Accounting and Finance, Faculty of Business and Development Studies.

Professor Christopher Garimoi Orach, CPAR Uganda Board Chair, with other distinguished members from academia attended the funeral of his late brother Dr. Nicholas Gregory Okello (PhD), at their ancestral burial grounds in Paicho in Gulu District on 25th January 2025. A video of the funeral is available to watch here.

Indeed, at his funeral, his former colleagues, distinguished members from academia spoke of late Dr. Okello with high praise for his life long “service of consideration to everyone”.

While Uganda, in particular and the World, in general, has lost such a significant and effective academic and educator, we, at CPAR Uganda, are comforted that Dr. Okello’s legacy he has bequeathed us in his body of work shall live on and will continue to positively impact the lives of many.

“Lenders of whole sale capital funds to MFIs/SACCOs which are categorized as debt should be encouraged to lend on longer term duration to complement the savings mobilized and equity funds so as to create greater loan deployment impact to the community across the sub region. Future research should separate debt capital from equity capital to establish the effects of each component on loan deployment. Savings mobilization drive should remain a central focus to increase loan able funds. The borrowers are the major driver to loan deployment, hence criteria for eligibility should be set in a credit policy since their ability to pay back the loan remain crucial to avoid a stockpile of bad debts and subsequent erosion of the capital base.”

These are the late Dr. Okello’s recommendations contained in an empirical research article that he was first author with Bruno Ocaya and Apollo Ksharu as the second and third authors.

The pdf of the research article titled: “Determinants of intermediation model of microfinance institutional operations in Uganda,” is available to download free.

It is just one of many of his publications that speak to the work of CPAR Uganda. Specifically, in this particular case, our “Uganda Women’s Economic Empowerment Loan Fund” project.

Dr. Okello’s remains were interred and laid their final resting place on 25th January 2025 in the family ancestral burial grounds in Paicho Kalumu Patuda Village in Gulu District.

We thank the late Dr. Okello for his service to country and pray that his soul finds everlasting peace.

For our dear Board Chair, we intercede in prayer that he and his extended family find the strength and all the support that they need during this trying time.

May God’s Holy Spirit watch over and strengthen the extended family of Prof. Orach to mourn their loved one, Dr. Okello, and eventually, to celebrate his time and contributions while he was here on earth.