By Vincentia Khakasa/Umoja Standard.
KAMPALA: Victoria University fraternity on Tuesday, 16th April, 2024 convened to celebrate the glorious life of Late Dr. Jerome Martin Okec Aliker who was the former Chancellor of Kampala based University. In presence of the pressmen and women, this kick-started with a prayer dedicating the soul of beloved servant to the Lord and later, a recognition poem was presented by Mary Goretti Katusabe-Ssemwezi, the University Secretary titled, ‘Mr. Chancellor Sir, You were You’
poem for Dr. Aliker-1
In attendance was the Current Chancellor and his Wife, Vice Chancellor Dr. Lawrence Muganga, University Secretary, University Alumni, Staff, Student representatives and members of the media. Beyond mourning his departure, The late was applauded for the dedicated service to the institution and the Education system of the Country.
The former Vice Chancellor Dr. Stephen R. Isabalija shared his heartfelt experience with the late regarding him as someone that stood for integrity, passion and self-driven to make education thrive.
Speaking at the memorial event, Prof. John Opuda-Asibo, the successor to the Late Dr. Jerome, said, he first encountered in 2013, he saw a council led by members and a great Leader ( Dr. Aliker) who was simple and with humility, who came from the “Bush and went back a hero through taking education seriously.
He embodied the education values of hope (having hope that education will create the change one seeks), competence, which element will enable students’ Endeavour that they should above all realize performance, patience and the value of independence and called upon VU students not to always look out to their parents but rather look out for themselves.
“Dr. Aliker was a humble man, with very little conviction stories against him, with this he ably led the University with great success, when I took over, I could only start from where he left and continue with the values. He had set at pace in the University because after him someone else would go on and take over to continue in the same lineage” He said.
He urged the University community especially the students to be patient, independent, hopeful and competitive as the values of the university has maintained. He went on to inform how dear the board members hold the memory and the works of the late Dr. Aliker.
The memorial event was climaxed with a moment of silence and prayer in recognition of the late Dr. Jerome Martin Okec Aliker.