HEART ATTACK CLAIMS HILLSIDE SCHOOLS NAALYA BOSS! Dr Okia Drove Himself to Hospital on Wednesday After Sudden Attack…Dies Thursday Morning
Uganda’s education sector is mourning the death of Dr Henry Stanley Okia, the longtime principal of Hillside Schools Naalya, who died on Thursday morning after suffering a sudden heart attack.
Okia reportedly experienced the medical emergency on Wednesday and, despite the sudden attack, drove himself to hospital seeking treatment. His condition later deteriorated and he passed away on Thursday morning.
His death has sent shockwaves through the education fraternity, with colleagues, former pupils and parents remembering him as a committed educationist, mentor and school leader.
A family announcement issued on Thursday described Okia as a dedicated leader, mentor and inspiration to many, whose life was defined by wisdom, integrity and service.
Okia’s death brings to an end a remarkable education career spanning more than four decades, during which he rose from a classroom teacher to become a school administrator, education researcher and holder of a doctorate in education.
His journey in education began at Namutamba Primary Teachers’ College in Mityana, where he started teacher training in 1980 before qualifying as a Grade Two teacher in 1984.
His first teaching posting took him to Narambhai Road Primary School in Jinja, where he taught several subjects, including English, Mathematics, Social Studies and Religious Education.
He later moved to Nakasero Primary School in 1988, continuing to build his reputation as a dedicated classroom teacher.
In 1997, Okia made the transition into private education when he became head teacher of Lakeside Academy Primary School in Entebbe.
He later played a role in establishing Entebbe Junior School before joining Hillside Schools Naalya, where he would spend more than two decades.
By 2024, Okia had served as principal of Hillside Schools Naalya for approximately 23 years, making him one of the institution’s longest-serving and most recognisable leaders.
Despite rising through the ranks into senior management, Okia never completely left the classroom behind.
He remained particularly interested in teaching Primary Seven pupils and frequently emphasised the importance of teachers treating education as a vocation rather than simply a job.
In a 2024 media interview, Okia described teaching as a calling and said one of the greatest rewards for an educator was watching former pupils grow into successful adults.
His passion for education also saw him return to the lecture room as a student.
Okia pursued advanced studies while continuing with his demanding career and eventually obtained a Doctor of Philosophy in Education from Kyambogo University, graduating in December 2023.
His doctoral research focused on support supervision and teacher performance in government-aided primary schools in the Teso Sub-region, examining the relationship between teacher supervision and performance.
Beyond school administration and research, Okia also contributed to educational literature.
He authored learning materials, including a Social Studies revision workbook for primary school pupils, and published research examining teacher supervision and professional development.
Even in the final months of his life, Okia remained actively involved in education programmes.
In July 2026, he addressed teachers at an education initiative in Gogonyo, where he encouraged educators to embrace the national curriculum, technology and early identification of pupils struggling with learning.
His career therefore spanned a remarkable period of transformation in Uganda’s education system—from the traditional chalk-and-blackboard classroom of the early 1980s to an era increasingly dominated by technology, digital learning and changing curricula.
For generations of pupils, teachers and parents who interacted with him, Okia was more than a school administrator. He was a teacher, mentor and education advocate who remained deeply connected to the classroom until his final years.
His sudden death has left the Hillside Schools community and the wider education fraternity mourning the loss of a veteran educationist whose career was built around teaching and service.
Burial arrangements are expected to be communicated by the family and Hillside Schools management.
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