The heart of Pallisa was filled with a profound sense of loss and admiration this past Sunday as thousands of people from across Uganda gathered at Okudelia Cell. They came together for a singular, somber purpose: to bid a final farewell to Staff Sergeant Stephen Okwana of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces. The atmosphere was thick with emotion as family, friends, and military colleagues honored a man whose life was defined by unwavering discipline, community spirit, and a deep love for his nation.
There is a striking, almost poetic irony in the timing of the Sergeant’s passing. He drew his final breath on June 25, the very same day he was born fifty-nine years earlier in 1967. His family shared touching details of his final hours, painting a picture of a man who found joy in the simple pleasures of life until the very end. On his last evening, he sat with his loved ones, his spirits high, as they watched the final matches of the English Premier League. His brother, Lawrence Ojinga, reflected on that night with bittersweet clarity, noting that no one could have imagined their pillar of strength would be gone by the following morning.
While the community mourns, they also celebrate the peaceful nature of his departure. After accepting Christ as his personal savior, Sergeant Okwana passed away quietly in his sleep, spared from prolonged agony. This peace, however, followed a brave struggle with prostate cancer. In a move that turned personal tragedy into a public service, Lawrence Ojinga used the funeral platform to issue a vital plea to all men. He urged them to break the silence surrounding men’s health, insisting that routine screenings and early diagnosis are the only ways to defeat the silent killer that claimed his brother. This message serves as a powerful reminder that taking care of one’s health is an act of love for the family left behind.
The funeral was also a testament to the incredible unity Sergeant Okwana fostered. Former Pallisa District Woman MP Hon. Kevin Kaala Ojinga spoke movingly about the family’s internal harmony, which she described as a lesson for all households. Despite having children from different mothers, the family remained a single, unbreakable unit, bound by the unconditional love of their matriarch. This spirit of togetherness was mirrored by the community at large. For fourteen days, neighbors and friends paused their own lives to support the grieving family, while the Pallisa Metropolitan WhatsApp Group and other well-wishers contributed significant financial support to ensure a dignified send-off.
Representing the military, Major Gerald Birigwa offered a stirring tribute to a fallen comrade. He highlighted the Sergeant’s impeccable record of service and praised the national leadership for establishing a burial program that honors every soldier with the respect they earn through their sacrifice. Although Okwana still had over a decade of service remaining before retirement, the Major assured the family that his contributions would not be forgotten and that his benefits would be handled with the care he deserved.
Staff Sergeant Stephen Okwana leaves behind nine children and a community inspired by his resilience. As he was laid to rest, the message was clear: while a great soldier has fallen, his legacy of unity, his passion for life, and his final call for health awareness will continue to resonate throughout Pallisa and beyond. This was more than a burial; it was a call for a community to stand together, just as the Sergeant stood for his country.