Amuria, (UG):- As the saying goes you reap what you sow, this befell Mr Angiro John, a retired renowned senior educationist in Pallisa District during his burial at Apungure village in Odoon, Amuria District on Saturday.
Angiro, 72, who succumbed to diabetes that was detected in 2009 and led to his amputation in 2014 had a decent send-off from the pupils whom he taught and nurtured to be patriotic mostly in Kalaki Primary School where he retired from education service in 2012.
Alice Katooko, a teacher of literature at St Peters College Tororo who is the spokesperson for the OBs and OGs of Kalaki Primary School told the mourners that they couldn’t miss burying a teacher who was so committed to his work and made most of them what they are and had time to nurture them as responsible citizens.
On getting the sad news of Muzei Angiro having his last breath on Thursday, Katooko said they mobilized themselves to ensure that their head teacher who fostered them is fairly buried.
“Angiro instilled in us hard work and time management and always inspired even some of us who were slow learners to get focused on what brought us to school, saying not all fruits in a tree ripe at the same time. This wave was emulated by the rest of our teachers hence good performance at our school,” she said.
William Ochom alias Cox who was the OBs and OGs coordinator said the little they raised was not what Angiro deserved but as the lake doesn’t deny a drop from a drizzle, let it be considered.
“We are still hunting for whoever was in Kalaki primary school and got benefits of education to step in until we clear the balance of one million demanded by L- Plus funeral service that handles the burial”, he said.
Mr Otimong Johnson who spoke on behalf of the teachers from Kalaki primary school where the deceased retired recollected how Angiro differed with the education office steered by Mr.Fredsam Kibule who was the Pallisa district education officer on his shift method of teaching.
Otimong said Mr Angiro didn’t entertain idling in the staffroom and ensured everybody was punctual and had lessons approved before entering class.
“Most head teachers blamed Mr Angiro for his style because he caused them administrative challenges with their teachers but this motivated us and this made us perform better to the extent that most of us got promotions to other head teachers, deputies and senior education assistants”, Otimong said.
Otimong cautioned the clan to avoid tampering with the property of the late and encroaching on the land because it would be a biblical reaped curse.
Ms Agnes Amoding the Pallisa UNATU Branch Chairperson lauded the young people who went through Angiro for remembering their teachers by a humble contribution of 1.8m, the teachers whom Angiro supervised and then the community of Kalaki for raising 1.2m.
Amoding challenged other pupils to emulate the OBs and OGs of Kalaki primary school and also teachers because this gesture is always done to parental teachers who are committed to their profession.
“As UNATU we are promising to deliver 500,000 which is our recommended contribution when we lose a member,” Amoding said.
Angiro John Junior the bereaved son who spoke on behalf of the family lauded the the teachers of Kalaki Primary School and the community for always standing with their family.
“I would remain uncorrectable if I didn’t recognize individuals and schools such as Pal and Lisa schools, St. Joseph’s junior school that stood with us it gives strength and recognized even after the death of my parents within a period of one year.”
“The OBs and OGs of Kalaki primary school I have all the space required in my heart for the solidarity you have for us and this depicts the seed my father sow in you”, Angiro stressed.
Rev. John Paul Oiki the parish priest of Kalaki (Pallisa) recalled Angiro as a unique administrator who took his work as a feeding plate and a school as his garden. Rev Oiki said what was important and didn’t want to be misquoted and said what should be celebrated most in Angiro’s life is that Angiro accepted Jesus fully as his personal saviour and was a subscriber of Pentecostal Assemblies of God.
At the burial Constance Achanit the medical worker of Eastern Division Health Center III cautioned people to be mindful of their health by conducting regular tests, especially for diabetes, pressure, prostrate and cervical cancer because they are non-communicable diseases that lead to claim lives of people make them die unexpected.
Ms Leah Nalapa the deputy head teacher of Kaucho Primary School said Angiro inculcated in them a spirit of unity, most of us got transferred from Kalaki Primary School but whoever taught Kalaki Primary School and mentored by Angiro calls that school home.
Suzan Apolot the Pallisa district probation officer said opened space for teachers to explore their potential which led some of them to further their education in different fields.
“Catherine Areikin the special needs inspector upgraded in her liking Oduch Charles Richard did social science, Lawrence Okwakol went for journalism where he freelances among others which is rare in most administrators”, Apolot said.
John Okia the Pallisa district deputy CAO in a verbatim message read before mourners highlighted Angiro as an education reformist in Pallisa who made the communities he served cherish the school.
Okia in a message stated that some head teachers and teachers have retired in Pallisa District without a single candidate scoring division one in the schools they served but Angiro is on record as a distinguished performer whom others should emulate.
“Pallisa district has close to 10% of its workforce in education health, administration, finance who passed through Kalaki primary school because it was the most pronounced school”, Okiia’s message read.
Profile Background
Brief about Angiro John, he did PLE at Amucu Primary School, UCE at Teso College and UACE at Nabumali High School before he went for Teacher Education in Kyambogo Teacher’s College (now Kyambogo University).
He taught in Bishop Kitching College, Teachers Training Ngora, St.Marys TTC Bukedea, teachers college, headed Kongunga primary school, during the insurgency that rocked Teso went to Mkoma SSS, before coming to Pallisa.
He served Kabwangasi Dem school, Komolo Akadot, Agule and Kalaki Primary School (twice) before his mandated retirement in 2012.
Angiro remained an education office consultant on critical matters until he got amputated.
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