The board chairperson of Nile Breweries Limited (NBL), Francis Onapito Ekomoloit, has passed away at 58 after succumbing to lung cancer.

Onapito passed away on Friday, September 27, 2024, at Kampala Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment.

The development was confirmed by Captain Mike Mukula, the Vice National Chairman for NRM and Eastern Uganda, on his X handle.

“On behalf of the Teso community and the country at large, I hereby announce with deep sadness and pain the demise of our brother, Hon. Francis Onapito Ekomoloit, a veteran journalist and former Member of Parliament for Amuria County,” said Mukula on his X.

Mukula added that the details of his demise would be communicated at a later stage.

Rt Hon. Anita Among, the Speaker of Parliament, took to her X and said, “I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of our brother Onapito Ekomoloit. He was a journalist of excellence, a former Press Secretary to the President, and a former MP. His honest and humble contributions to our country speak for themselves. My heartfelt sympathies go out to H.E. Museveni, his family, friends, the press fraternity, the Nile Breweries family, and the Teso community. May his soul rest in peace.”

Chris Obore, the Parliament Spokesperson, recognized Onapito as an icon, a humble gentleman who was traditionally grounded and intellectually exposed, adding that the Teso region did not deserve to lose him.

The deputy press secretary to the president Faruk Kirunda mourned Onapito and said, “Too bad to lose Comrade Onapito Ekomoloit, another former Presidential Press Secretary, just after we lost Tamale Mirundi. Teso and Uganda have been deprived of an illustrious son and professional who had great ideas that he delivered effortlessly and respectfully. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”

WHO WAS ONAPITO?

Onapito served as a university lecturer and a member of the boards of several companies, including Nile Breweries, where he served as a legal and corporate affairs director for 17 years, and at the MTN Uganda Foundation Board of Trustees, among others.

Onapito, popularly known as Ona, was a man for all seasons and one who rose from a very humble upbringing where he was raised by the community in Amuria.

Onapito was one of the Mass Communication students at Makerere University who landed his first job with the Daily Monitor. He later joined a group of journalists who started The Crusader, where he rose to be the Editor in Chief.

After Gen. Jeje Odongo surrendered his Amuria County MP seat in Katakwi District upon his appointment as army commander, the by-election saw Onapito defeat Engineer John Kokas Emunyu in the Member of Parliament race, where he only served for one term.

He served as Member of Parliament before working as Press Secretary to President Museveni and authored his book, “Tears and Triumph.” His role as Presidential Press Secretary further solidified his status as a key figure in national political communication, bridging the gap between the presidency and the media with professionalism and integrity.

In 2006, he left the state house and immediately jumped into the corporate world at Nile Breweries, serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors for 17 years.

He was appointed as the Board Chairman upon retirement from Nile Breweries in June last year, where he served until he passed away.