Opiyo Oloya

Opiyo Oloya, BA, MEd, PhD, is a Ugandan-born educator, author, broadcaster, music-lover and journalist, who is resident in Canada. He is the current Superintendent of Schools, York Catholic District School Board. Previously, he has served as the principal of Divine Mercy Catholic School, an elementary school in Vaughan, Ontario. He writes a weekly column for the New Vision, an English daily newspaper in Uganda, the third-largest economy in the East African Community. He is the founder of Acholi Diaspora Association of Toronto and of International Resources for Deaf and Blind Children.^[1] He was involved in dissemination of information about the Canadian charity, Gulu Walk.^[2]

Background and education

He was born in Pamin-Yai Village, in modern-day Amuru District, Northern Region, Uganda, in 1957, to Alipayo Oloya, who fathered 30 offspring,^[3] and Awilo Oloya. At the time of his birth, Amuru District was part of neighboring Gulu District. After attending local primarily schools, he was admitted to Sir Samuel Baker Secondary School for part of his O-Level studies (S1 to S3), from 1973 until 1976. He transferred to St. Peter's College Tororo, completing both his O-Level and A-Level education there, from 1976 until 1979. In 1979 he was admitted to Makerere University to pursue a degree in Political Science. While at Makerere, he became active in campus politics and was elected president of Makerere University Students' Guild. His views clashed with those of the ruling Obote II regime at the time.^[4]

In 1981, he fled to neighboring Kenya, before finishing his undergraduate studies. He filed for refugee status in Kenya and was accepted by Canada, where he relocated in 1981. He continued his studies at Queen’s University, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1986. He went on to attain the degree of Master of Education from the University of Ottawa in 1988.^[1][4] In June 2010, he successfully defended his thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at York university.^[3]

Career

Opiyo Oloya's chosen main career is in education. Beginning as a school teacher, he has over the years risen in rank to where he is today. He also is a prolific writer and author with at least one major book to his name: Child to Soldier (University of Toronto Press, 2013).

He is a self-admitted admirer of African music. He hosts a weekly radio program "Karibuni", ("Welcome" in Swahili), on CIUT 89.5 FM in Toronto. In addition, he writes a monthly review of world music for The Word, an African entertainment magazine in Toronto.^[4]

Other considerations

He is a married father. He belongs to the Roman Catholic faith. His current research involves assessment of the impact of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Joint Task Force South Sudan and Joint Task Force, Central African Republic.

See also

• Amuru District
• Gulu
• Betty Bigombe
• Acholi sub-region

References

External links