UGANDA: EULOGY, FROM LEADING MAKERERE DON ALEX ODONGA MWA DR. FLORENCE ACEN OLIVIA EMERGED TOP WORLD PEDIATRIC AUDIOMETRY SPECIALIST

 Florence’s leadership nature also showed itself in the Christian confession of her lifestyle. 

” Makerere University is the graveyard of Christians(girls)”was a common and very alarming statement in their time, more so l because it appeared to be true. Determined to change this paradigm, she along with a group of young balokole Christians from various schools largely influenced by the Tukutendereza, evangelical movement of the East African Revival and encouraged by stalwarts like Bp. Festo Kivengere, whose own daughters passed through Gayaza High School, and his Team consisting of Mr. Zeb Kabaza, Canon Kigozi and Mr. Wilson, they decided to form the Christian Union of Makerere University.

GULU CITY-THURSDAY OCTOBER 5, 2026

By Okumu Livingstone Langol, (Uganda Correspondent)

Today at Custom Conner, outskirt of Gulu City Two kilometer to the west, couple of mourners in their hundreds gather to pray for the sendoff Dr. Florence Acen Olivia Odonga as her remain body is lay to rest in Scotland Bolton City

The Church services was conducted in Gulu City by Emeritus Northern Uganda Anglican Church, Bishop Nelson Onono Onweng, who praise Dr. Florence Acen Olivia for being very delectated to educated her siblings over 20 people back home, thank God we have a wonderful person Acholi of the past who loved relatives, not Acholi of this day who denied opportunity to their relatives.

“Acholi let us love one another, in the past Acholi people had loved for their own people, if we have love and we like our relatives, Acholi would be very far in development.” Emeritus Bishop Nelson Onono Onweng argued with all the mourners both in Uganda and Acholi in diaspora who were closely monitoring the church procession through social media.

Florence Olivia Acen Odonga was born as the second twin to Alexander Mwa and Janet Mary Arach Odonga.

As a young child of barely 9 yrs old responsibility befell her shoulders when their parents had to travel abroad in order to complete studies. Children could not be sponsored under that colonial scheme unless your cultural kingdom could sponsor it. Her father went on merit. The five children left behind became Florence’s concern despite having a hardworking Auntie taking up general responsibility over them. As God would have it, this Aunt became a product of the East African Revival, Northern wing led by the illustrious evangelist Otunnu, father of emeritus Ambassador Olara Otunnu. She led Florence to Christ at a tender age, and these two experiences led their indelible marks upon the young girl.

Florence soon exhibited a lot of determination when she vowed that she would join the illustrious High School that her mother had attended and which was the dream of every aspiring young pupil. What is more, she made it against the odds, though it must be said that back in the day, the missionaries ensured excellent education in every part of the nation where they were to be found – Gulu being no exception!

Coming from Acholi land into Buganda was a tall order, and she suffered the usual brunt of teasing and mischief from her Buganda classmates. Despite all this, and on account of the high profile of her parents in the then haute couture of Kampala, her friendly, mature and humble nature soon earned her respect and she formed fast friends who are there to date.

After Junior One and two at Gayaza primary school, she emerged top of her class for admission into the dream High School.

Florence was a girl of many talents.

She was a sportswoman, excelling in hockey; a dancer participating in traditional as well as European dances like the dainty Scottish dancing; an actor participating in may classically plays as the main character – such as in

Shakespeare’s  Hamlet, Prince of Denmark; she was a singer,  performing in the  Chapel Choir  and renowned  Gayaza Singers as a soprano;  she  loved music and as part of the O level curriculum she learned to play the recorder – type of woodwind flute; she was an active Christian participating in many Christian activities; she was so good at Home Economics that she learned from her mother, a British trained teacher of that subject; she was also good at Agriculture and farming and excelled in the agricultural show where exotic cattle were introduced to the school farm. She learned some French at O level and generally excelled in academics.

Florence’s leadership nature also showed itself in the Christian confession of her lifestyle.

” Makerere University is the graveyard of Christians(girls)” was a common and very alarming statement in their time, more so l because it appeared to be true. Determined to change this paradigm, she along with a group of young _balokole Christians from various schools largely influenced by the Tukutendereza, evangelical movement of the East African Revival and encouraged by stalwarts like Bp. Festo Kivengyere, whose own daughters passed through Gayaza High School, and his Team consisting of Mr. Zeb Kabaza, Canon Kigozi and Mr. Wilson, _ they decided to form the Christian Union of Makerere University.

The first patron and mentor par excellence were Dr. Zac Fomum a lecturer in the department of Chemistry, who hailed from Cameroon.

What began as a small fellowship on weekend nights soon expanded to a very large and formidable force on the campus. Instead of hiding in cocoons or shrinking away into anonymity, these young students soon began to move from room to room in the halls of residence, boldly sharing the eternal Gospel of Christ in what was to become the famous door to door in reach of the Christian Union.

Neither did they stop there, but the Medical School formed the first Faculty Fellowship that yielded some of the finest Christian leaders to date such as Dr Frank Mulera (of Letter from Toronto renown), _Dr Elisonguo Shao who is a very well-respected clergyman in Christ Church Arusha, Tz. Other leaders included the fiery young Guild Present Olara Otunnu and the dynamic preacher/actor John Sentamu (of The City Kidx Fame) amongst many others.

Some ten years later, inspired by her older sister, her younger sister established a faculty fellowship at the Veterinary School in Makerere, soon to be emulated around the campus as vibrant fellowships sprang up in different colleges.

Florence was influenced in later years by Christian leaders and writers like the Rev. R. W Stott , a renowned writer of  Christian Apologetics, Mr. Watchman Nee (author of  Sit, Walk, Stand)  an outstanding Christian leader in the Underground Chinese Church known as _the Church behind the Bamboo Curtain; Evangelist Billy Graham of USA whose recorded evangelistic meetings worldwide were often replayed in the Agricultural amphitheater as an evangelistic outreach and inspiration to members of the Fellowship.

During the harsh years of the Dictator Idi Amin Dada, Florence and friends turned to deep intercession for the nation and for family, coining a term known as “Knee- ology”. Being full of humour which was a healthy backstop to all the harrowing and horrifying experiences the nation went through in those times, she and other like minded Christians often converted the unpleasant antics of the regime into memorable jokes poking fun at the poor speech skills of the leader and some outlandish statements he would make.

Florence’s leadership nature also showed itself in the Christian confession of her lifestyle.

” Makerere University is the graveyard of Christians(girls)”was a common and very alarming statement in their time, more so l because it appeared to be true. Determined to change this paradigm, she along with a group of young balokole Christians from various schools largely influenced by the Tukutendereza, evangelical movement of the East African Revival and encouraged by stalwarts like Bp. Festo Kivengyere, whose own daughters passed through Gayaza High School, and his Team consisting of Mr. Zeb Kabaza, Canon Kigozi and Mr. Wilson, they decided to form the Christian Union of Makerere University.

The first patron and mentor par excellence were Dr. Zac Fomum a lecturer in the department of Chemistry, who hailed from Cameroon.

What began as a small fellowship on weekend nights soon expanded to a very large and formidable force on the campus. Instead of hiding in cocoons or shrinking away into anonymity, these young students soon began to move from room to room in the halls of residence, boldly sharing the eternal Gospel of Christ in what was to become the famous door to door in reach of the Christian Union.

Neither did they stop there, but the Medical School formed the first _Faculty Fellowship_ that yielded some of the finest Christian leaders to date such as Dr Frank Mulera (of Letter from Toronto renown), Dr Elisonguo Shao_ who is a very well-respected clergyman in Christ Church Arusha, Tz. Other leaders included the fiery young Guild Present Olara Otunnu and the dynamic preacher/actor John Sentamu (of _The City Kid_ Fame) amongst many others.

Some ten years later, inspired by her older sister, her younger sister established a faculty fellowship at the Veterinary School in Makerere, soon to be emulated around the campus as vibrant fellowships sprang up in different colleges.

Florence was influenced in later years by Christian leaders and writers like the Rev. R. W Stott , a renowned writer of  Christian Apologetics, Mr Watchman Nee (author of Sit, Walk, Stand) an outstanding Christian leader in the Underground Chinese Church known as the Church behind the Bamboo Curtain; Evangelist Billy Graham of USA whose recorded evangelistic meetings worldwide were often replayed in the Agricultural amphitheater as an evangelistic outreach and inspiration to members of the Fellowship.

During the harsh years of the Dictator Idi Amin Dada, Florence and friends turned to deep intercession for the nation and for family, coining a term known as “Knee- ology”. Being full of humour which was a healthy backstop to all the harrowing and horrifying experiences the nation went through in those times, she and other like minded Christians often converted the unpleasant antics of the regime into memorable jokes poking fun at the poor speech skills of the leader and some outlandish statements he would make.

Florence Olivia Acen Odonga was born as the second twin to Alexander Mwa and Janet Mary Arach Odonga.

As a young child of barely 9 yrs old responsibility befell her shoulders when their parents had to travel abroad in order to complete studies. Children could not be sponsored under that colonial scheme unless your cultural kingdom could sponsor it. Her father went on merit. The five children left behind became Florence’s concern despite having a hardworking Auntie taking up general responsibility over them. As God would have it, this Aunt became a product of the East African Revival, Northern wing led by the illustrious evangelist Otunnu, father of emeritus Ambassador Olara Otunnu. She led Florence to Christ at a tender age, and these two experiences led their indelible marks upon the young girl.

Florence soon exhibited a lot of determination when she vowed that she would join the illustrious High School that her mother had attended and which was the dream of every aspiring young pupil. What is more, she made it against the odds, though it must be said that back in the day, the missionaries ensured excellent education in every part of the nation where they were to be found – Gulu being no exception!

Coming from Acholi land into Buganda was a tall order, and she suffered the usual brunt of teasing and mischief from her Buganda classmates. Despite all this, and on account of the high profile of her parents in the then _haute couture_ of Kampala, her friendly, mature and humble nature soon earned her respect and she formed fast friends who are there to date.

After Junior One and two at Gayaza primary school, she emerged top of her class for admission into the dream High School.

Florence was a girl of many talents. 

She was a sportswoman, excelling in hockey; a dancer participating in traditional as well as European dances like the dainty Scottish dancing; an actor participating in may classically plays as the main character  such as in

Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Prince of Denmark; she was a singer,  performing in the Chapel Choir and renowned Gayaza Singers as a soprano; she  loved music and as part of the O level curriculum she learned to play the recorder  type of woodwind flute; she was an active Christian participating in many Christian activities; she was so good at Home Economics that she learned from her mother, a British trained teacher of that subject; she was also good at Agriculture and farming and excelled in the agricultural show where exotic cattle were introduced to the school farm. She learned some French at O level and generally excelled in academics.