By Nyang’au Araka
Former Kisii Senator Sam Ongeri was Monday conferred the Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) degree at Bugema University-Uganda for his contribution as a medical doctor and scholar.
Prof. Ongeri is an alumnus of the university where he obtained his bachelor’s degree after his elementary education in Kisii.
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The ceremony was attended by among others, Uganda’s Vice President (VP) Jessica Alupo.
The University Senate described Professor as “an astute statesman with a rare intellect whose exemplary leadership and service to humanity is unparalleled”.
Born in 1938, Prof. Ongeri who is presently not in active politics is a well-known individual in the medical, academia and diplomacy fields.
Apart from Bugema University, Prof. Ongeri also studied at the University of Delhi, University of Bombay, University of London, Edinburg University, Royal College of Physicians and the University of Nairobi (UoN).
Apart from teaching at the UoN’s school of medicine, Prof. Ongeri has a long profile as a public servant, including serving as the chairman of Athletics Kenya (AK) from 1974 to 1984.
He was first elected as MP for Nyaribari Masaba in 1988, and served in various capacities including Minister of Education from 2007 to 2012 and Foreign Minister between 2012 and 2013.
Notably, Prof. Ongeri was a key figure in the Koffi Annan-led peace talks that followed the 2007-08 post-election crisis in Kenya.
He also served Permanent Representative to the UN-Habitat from 2015-2017.
While at the UN, he initiated and participated in the UN-Habitat’s reduced spatial inequality and poverty in communities across the urban-rural continuum.
He also enhanced shared prosperity of cities and regions, strengthened climate action and improved urban environment and Effective urban crisis prevention and response.
In 2017 he was elected as Kisii County Senator and served up to 2023 when he vied for the Kisii gubernatorial seat and lost.
The degree bestowed upon him was not academic but for the sake of honour
It is given to individuals as a mark of honor, often in recognition of their outstanding contributions to a particular field or society at large, rather than for completing the usual academic requirements.
