Former Press Secretary to the President and media guru Onapito Ekomoloit,(58,) died of stage four lung cancer family sources have said.
Onapito, it has been revealed was admitted to hospital two months ago and was diagnosed suffering from lung cancer at an advanced stage 4 . One of the founding members of the defunct Crusader newspaper , Onapito, who was popularly known as Ona, in 2006, was appointed – the President’s Press Secretary.
He was also one of the pioneer students of Mass Communication when the course was introduced at Makerere University in the early 90s. He worked at the Monitor (now Daily Monitor.)
Ona was a family man too
Onapita Ekomoloit was former member of the Uganda Parliamentary Press Association (UPPA), former, member Uganda Journalists Association (UJA), member NEC National Institute of Journalists of Uganda (NIJU) , and lecturer of Journalism and Mass Communication at Makerere university
Ona worked at Nile Breweries for 17 years where he retired last year and was appointed the company’s Board of Directors Chairman. He has been on the council of elders at St Peter’s College Tororo.
In 1998 he was elected Amuria County MP seat in the then Katakwi District after defeating Engineer John Kokas Emunyu. He received 6,167 votes (37.84%) against his rival’s 4,702 votes (28%). He served only one term .
Ona, was the author of a book “Tears and Triumph,” in which he revealed secrets about working with President Museveni and his belief that the Head of State was grooming his son Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba to take over from him as president .
Onapito was born on April 26, 1966 in Amuria, in the then Katakwi District.
Onapitio wedded his second wife Cathy in February this year after he lost his first wife Margaret Aanyu ,and mother of his first son in October 2023.. He is survived by children and wife . He has made his contribution to the great journalism profession and we pray his soul rests in eternal peace .
