July 19, 2010

JHSPH affiliate Stephen Okiria killed in Ugandan bomb attack

Stephen Okiria, 43, was killed in one of the bomb attacks in Kampala, Uganda, on the night of July 11. As a finance manager for the Center for Communication Programs’ AFFORD-health marketing initiative, Okiria was participating at the time of the bombing in a product-promotion event with several colleagues from CCP and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

A Ugandan native, Okiria obtained a bachelor of commerce degree and an MBA from Makerere University in Kampala. Colleagues described him as a gracious and dedicated professional, whose last act was to seek to improve the health of others. In addition to his work with CCP, he was actively involved with a number of civic organizations to better his community.

In addition to his wife, Sara Okiria Kooli, Okiria leaves behind six children, ages 3 to 17. A fund has been established for his family, and gifts can be sent to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Office of External Affairs, 615 N. Wolfe St., Suite E2132, Baltimore, MD 21205. Checks should be made out to Johns Hopkins University, with the notation “Stephen Okiria Family Fund” in the memo section of the check. To give online, go to www
.jhsph.edu/stephenokiria.