A Life in Education Ends
Dr Henry Stanley Okia, the longtime principal of Hillside Schools Naalya, has died, according to a family announcement issued on Thursday. The announcement described him as a “dedicated leader, mentor and inspiration to many,” whose legacy of “wisdom, integrity and service” would endure.
While ChimpReports reported that the cause, place and exact time of his death had not been publicly disclosed by Thursday, redpepper.co.ug reported that Okia died Thursday morning after suffering a sudden heart attack. That report added that Okia experienced the medical emergency on Wednesday and drove himself to hospital, where his condition deteriorated.
Okia’s death brings to an end a career in education that spanned more than four decades, during which he rose from a Grade Two teacher to school administrator, education researcher and holder of a doctorate in education.
From Classroom to Principal’s Office
Okia began his teacher training at Namutamba Primary Teachers’ College in Mityana in 1980, qualifying as a Grade Two teacher in 1984. His first posting took him to Narambhai Road Primary School in Jinja, where he taught English, Mathematics, Social Studies and Religious Education. He moved to Nakasero Primary School in 1988.
In 1997, Okia entered private education as head teacher of Lakeside Academy Primary School in Entebbe. He later helped establish Entebbe Junior School before joining Hillside Schools Naalya, where he would spend more than two decades. By 2024, he had served as principal for approximately 23 years, making him one of the institution’s longest-serving leaders.
Despite moving into senior administration, Okia remained closely involved in classroom teaching, particularly with Primary Seven pupils. “Teaching is a calling,” he told a media house in a 2024 interview, saying one of a teacher’s greatest rewards was seeing former pupils succeed later in life.
Scholar and Author
Okia pursued further studies throughout his career, earning a Doctor of Philosophy in Education from Kyambogo University in December 2023. His doctoral research, titled “Support Supervision and Teacher Performance in Government-aided Primary Schools in Teso Sub-region, Uganda,” examined how teacher supervision affected performance in primary schools. He also authored educational materials, including a Social Studies revision workbook for primary school pupils.
In July 2026, Okia addressed teachers at an education initiative in Gogonyo.
Burial arrangements are expected to be communicated by the family and Hillside Schools management.