MICHEAL OCAN: A DISTINGUISHED EDUCATIONIST AND ICON OF SELFLESSNESS

On Thursday, February 20, 2025, Lapwony Obua George H. A was one of the Keynote Speakers at Lapwony Micheal Ocan Memorial Lecture held at Gulu District Council Hall.

*Keynote Speaker, Lapwony George H.A Obua*

Upon reading the first edition of THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF LAPWONY MICHEAL OCAN ,he communicated in May 2020, advising that, “The Life and Legacy of Lapwony Micheal Ocan cannot be complete without touching at a greater depth his life as a teacher at St. Joseph’s College, Layibi. My conviction is that St. Joseph’s College, Layibi remains a strong foundation upon which Micheal Ocan’s professional talent as a teacher and later School Administrator was moulded, and at which his political aspirations got realised.”

Mr. Obua spoke about this, and more.

LAPWONY GEORGE OBUA H.A CHAPTER IN THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF LAPWONY MICHEAL OCAN

I knew Micheal Ocan at the start of the Academic Year 1975/1976 at Makerere University. I was a 3rd Year Bachelor of Arts Degree and Concurrent Diploma in Education student resident in Mitchell Hall.

On a day I do not specifically recall, Daniel Comboni Omollo, a village-mate from my home of origin at Obim, Apala, East Lango District then, came to see me in my room, B5 in Mitchell Hall. Daniel Comboni Omollo had just joined the University for a BSc Degree Course.

He came along with a colleague whom he introduced to me as Micheal Ocan who he said had been his school-mate at Comboni College, Lira for two years 1969 – 1970 during ‘O’ Level. Micheal Ocan had been below him by two years and as he, Daniel Comboni Omollo sat for the East African Certificate of Education (EACE) Examinations at the end of 1970, Micheal Ocan was completing his senior two. During the two years 1969 – 1970, they had become very close friends to the extent that Micheal Ocan would go to visit him at Apala, during the holidays.  In turn he Daniel Comboni Omollo would go to Micheal Ocan’s home in Gulu.

Micheal Ocan as I immediately came to know him, was an open minded and jolly person. Because of the frequent courtesy visits he used to make to me in Mitchell Hall in the company of Daniel Comboni Omollo and consequently, because of other interactions we had while in Makerere University, Micheal Ocan too became a close acquaintance and friend to me.

Micheal Ocan narrated to me the visits he used to make to Daniel Comboni Omollo at Apala my home of origin. I in turn told him about how I was not completely new in Gulu, his home area, because I had studied at Sir Samuel Baker School (Pongdongo) for my ‘A’ Level: S.5 – S.6 in 1971 – 1972; and I had from May to June 1975 taught in Gulu High School during my Second Year School Practice.

Through the friendship with Micheal Ocan, I developed further liking for Gulu to the extent that during my final year 1975/76, I decided to apply to go to St. Joseph’s College Layibi for the final School Practice and through the courtesy of the Headmaster, Rev. Fr. Victor Cona, I was taken: my teaching subjects being  English and Geography.

As for Micheal Ocan, it coincided that as I got posted to St. Joseph’s College Layibi for the final school practice, he also got employed in the school as a student teacher for Physics and Mathematics, to specifically handle ‘A’ Level, a courtesy he shared with  Okumu SS, a student teacher from Dar-es-salaam University who was to teach Economics.

I successfully completed the final school practice at St. Joseph’s College Layibi in June 1976 and immediately thereafter through the courtesy of the Headmaster Rev.Fr. Victor Cona, got posted to the school by the Ministry of Education Kampala, as a Graduate Trained teacher for English and Geography with effect from 28th June, 1976.  As for Micheal Ocan, he had to leave to go and continue with his studies at Makerere University.

In a staff meeting held on Thursday 1st July 1976, chaired by the Deputy Headmaster Mr. C.V.D Lanek, I was formally welcomed as a new member of staff and wished a happy stay in the school. As for M/s Micheal Ocan and Okumu S.S they were bade good bye, with great appreciation for the gap they had filled on the time table, and for the invaluable services they had rendered to the school.

*St. Joseph’s College Layibi – Gulu: The school that was to play a big role to groom Michael Ocan as a professional teacher and later school administrator.*

My links with Micheal Ocan continued and got further strengthened when on completion of his Bachelor of Science and Concurrent Diploma in Education course at Makerere University; he got posted to Layibi College as a permanent Graduate Teacher for Physics and Mathematics in 1979. This marked the start of his journey as a professional teacher and later school administrator.

In 1978, a year before Micheal Ocan joined St. Joseph’s College as a permanent teacher, the school celebrated its Silver Jubilee on 28/06/1978; which got blessed in attendance by the Minister of Education, Hon. Brigadier Barnabas Kili, DSO, as Guest of Honour.

In the occasion the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Bishop Cipriano Dr. Kihangire applauded Layibi College for the continued improvement in performance which led to it being spoken of as one of the leading schools in the country for ‘O’ Level Results. He substantiated this by the fact that in the previous year 1977, the school had produced the best student over all in the East African Certificate of Education (EACE) Examinations, in the person of Odongo Francis: Index No.U0040/011, who scored Aggregate 09 for eight subjects, 06 for best six subjects.

In the Chairman Board of Governors words: “This was achievement teachers ought to be complimented for because it reflected seriousness, dedication to duty and a real determination to work hard; and it was because of their efficient teaching that the school had been able to perform so well.”

On other achievements, the Chairman Board of Governors established the following:

• The School Football Team had won the Gulu Schools Cup ten (10) times in the last fifteen (15) years; two (02) times won the Northern Provincial Football Cup; and one (01) time was 2nd in the National Championships.
• The Athletics Team had for 9 years won the West Acholi District Championships and for the previous 4 years in succession, the cup had been in Layibi College.
• The Basketball Team had won twice (02) the National Schools Championships after beating practically all teams from other schools.
• The Volleyball Team had had mixed fortunes but had in general been very strong.

Finally, the Chairman Board of Governors gave a special applaud to the Headmaster, Rev. Fr. Victor Cona “whose fruits of wise, prudent and confident leadership undoubtedly led to all the achievement, for he had worked untiringly with most devoutedness for  the good and progress of Layibi College since 1963,” Hence the warmest and deepest thanks went to him.

And that very year 1978, the projection for even better performance came to be true as Layibi College for the second year running produced the best student in the East African Certificate of Education (EACE) Examinations in the person of Kiwanuka Benedict Index No.U0040/002, who scored Aggregate 12 for nine subjects; 06 for best six.

Such were the realities of St. Joseph’s College Layibi as at 1978 when it celebrated its Silver Jubilee, a year before Micheal Ocan joined in as a permanent teacher for Physics and Mathematics in 1979, along with other young determined teachers some of whom though, came slightly after him:

• George Piwang : Physics/ Mathematics
• Vincent Uma Dwokatua ; English Double Main
• John Charles Ojera : Woodwork/ Technical Drawing
• Alex Lapyem : Commerce/ Economics
• Caxton Okello Oryem : Chemistry/ Physics
• David Ojok Okeny : Biology/ Geography
• Betty Aol : Biology/ Chemistry.

Uniquely, Betty Aol was a lone female teacher in the school, and was later to become Micheal Ocan’s choice for a wife and lifelong partner. As a couple, they stayed together in Staff House No.14 and taught in the school for quite some time, up to about 1986.

The new teachers who joined Layibi College about the same time with Micheal Ocan got aptly absorbed into the teaching staff and worked together with the old staff under the administration of the Headmaster, Rev. Fr. Victor Cona, to enable the school maintain its performance standards and forge ahead to even greater level of success! Lamentably, about 1981, Rev. Fr. Victor Cona left. He was succeeded by Mr. J. B. A. Oyaro Neramoi

As a teacher in Layibi College Micheal Ocan was a very effective classroom teacher, but also actively participated in extracurricular activities.  He exhibited high level charisma and extra ordinary ability to coordinate with, and mobilize fellow teachers. Together with other colleagues, with him being at the fore front, it became possible for teachers to organize themselves to meet challenges of the economic hardships resulting from the ‘Economic War’ declared by Idi Amin, which got characterized by scarcity of essential commodities including salt, sugar and soap.

This was a venture that enabled the teachers to come  together to pool their meagre resources together in order to try and make ends meet; leading to the formation of Layibi College Staff Canteen, which to a great extent got propped by the Verona Fathers by way of supply of commodities, through their (Verona Fathers’) “Procure”  Establishment.

Consequently the Layibi College spirit of teachers coming together spearheaded by the likes of Micheal Ocan led to the formation of Gulu Post Primary Teachers Association (GPPTA) to help the teachers in the various educational institutions in Gulu promote awareness on their plight at professional and other levels, eventually touching on ‘a bit of politics’.

Following the Liberation War that removed Idi Amin from power in April 1979, the teachers therefore took a centre position and used their organization as a spring board for political support, specifically for the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC).

Micheal Ocan with other politically minded colleagues proved to be a dynamic political activist and was eminent in the support for the Uganda People Congress. He was one of those who masterminded the formation of Layibi College UPC Branch on 17th July 1980, as result of whose external influence, UPC Branches mushroomed in all the Post Primary Institutions in Gulu. Micheal Ocan and his right hand Colleague Ojera John Charles(“Ozerick”), Chairman of Layibi College UPC Branch, indisputably played a big role in bringing UPC to a landslide Victory in the December 1980 General Elections whereby all the three constituencies in Gulu got taken by UPC Candidates:

• Gulu East – Hon. E. Otema Alimadi
• Gulu West – Hon. Akena p’Ojok
• Gulu South – Hon. Y. Y. Ongwen

*Ojera John Charles*

I therefore strongly believe that Michael Ocan’s Biographical Profile cannot be complete without touching at a greater depth his life as a teacher at St. Joseph’s College Layibi, which helped lay a strong foundation upon which his talent as a professional teacher and potential as a school administrator got developed. It was also at Layibi College that his political aspirations got realized.

I left St. Joseph’s College Layibi on transfer to Lango College Lira in May 1982, but my contact with Layibi College and especially colleagues formerly on the teaching staff with me, including Micheal Ocan, remained. Micheal Ocan’s was a special case because culturally he stood out as a ‘Mukoo’ or Brother-in-law to me in respect to my wife Ms. Joyce Margaret Atim Odong a close relative of his whom I got and chose for a wife in 1977 while I was teaching at Layibi College. My wife Atim Margret Obua also later worked at Layibi College as Accounts Clerk from 1979 to 1982, when she transferred her services to Lango College, in a similar position.

*Mr. Obua, Mrs. Margaret Obua and Mrs. Aol Betty Ocan ( Layibi Go-Down, 1992)*

*Mego Aol Betty Ocan and Mego Margaret Obua today*

Despite my having left Layibi College in 1982, I was able to follow the traces of ‘Mike’ as I fondly commonly came to refer to him, up to when he left Layibi College about 1986, and became Headmaster at Awere Senior Secondary School; and then some years afterwards, when he became Headmaster Sir Samuel Baker School and lastly when he went to Kitgum High School, where he was Head-teacher up to his retirement from government service.

Before concluding, I need to touch on two areas in the service of the nation in which Micheal Ocan and I had the courtesy of sharing experiences during active service with government and after retirement.

The East African Examinations Council/ Uganda National Examinations Board

I started marking with the East African Examinations Council in 1978 when I was teaching at St. Joseph’s College Layibi. I marked English Language Paper Two (112/2) for ‘O’ Level. On joining Layibi College, Micheal Ocan became an Examiner for Physics 535/3 ‘O’ Level. As a result we were through the years able to share environments as Examiners.

A case of special memory was when we shared the Examinations Marking Centre for ‘O’ level 1989, at Namilyango College. This accorded us a fabulous re-union with many other teachers specifically those with whom we had taught at Layibi College before I left in 1982: M/s George Onen Lawot, Vincent Dwokatua, Alfred Acaye Odongtoo, Francis Uma Agula, and Himself, Micheal Ocan.

*UNEB Examiners for Physic 535/3 at Namilyango College 1989.Michael Ocan is standing  1st from right. Other Examiners who formerly taught at Layibi College are: Richard Kibwota Opoka – front row, 3rd from right ; Francis Uma Agula – standing 3rd from right.*

On the supervision scene, Michael Ocan and I shared experiences as Area Supervisors for the UCE and UACE Examinations for many years. Micheal Ocan then was Headmaster Kitgum High School; and I was Headmaster Lango College.

As well after retirement from service we continued to render services to UNEB in respect to PLE Examinations Monitoring and UCE/ UACE Scouting; for Micheal Ocan until his demise in 2017.

The Family Planning Association of Uganda (FPAU)

Both Micheal Ocan and I served Family Planning Association of Uganda (FPAU) as District Chairmen and National Delegates from 1998 to 2002, when Micheal Ocan was Chairperson for Gulu District, and I was Chairperson for Lira District.

In the Annual General Meeting of FPAU that took place at Pope Paul Memorial Community Centre Kampala on 22nd -23rd April 1998,, which meeting was blessed in attendance by Hon. Dr. Samson Kisekka (Senior Advisor to H.E The President of Uganda), as Guest of Honor, Micheal Ocan got elected as Vice Chairman to the National Executive Committee, FPAU – AGM held on 22nd – 23rd April 1998 at Pope Paul Memorial Community Centre, while I was elected member of the National Executive Committee.

*Kampala: L-R; Mr.Vincent Okidi, Delegate Kitgum; Mr. Michael Ocan, Delegate Gulu; Mr. George Obua, Delegate Lira*

The full line up was as follows:

• Chairman NEC : Dr. James Sengendo – Kampala
• Vice Chairman : Mr. Mike Ocan – Gulu
• Treasurer : Mrs. Proce Rweigembe – Kabale

Members NEC :

• Mr. Julius Mukwanya – Mukono
• Mr. Silver Kasoro Atwooki – Fort Portal
• Mr. George Obua – Lira
• Mrs. Emma Bona – Women Representative, Western Region
• Mr. John Watulo – Mbale
• Mrs. Jane Florence Bagonza – Iganga

Executive Director : Mr. Joseph Atik

Grab a copy of *THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF LAPWONY MICHEAL OCAN*