Onegi Obel
Angelo Onegi Obel | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Pacego Pumvuga, Panyango sub-county, Jonam County, Nebbi District, Uganda |
| Died | December 16, 2008 (aged 76) |
| Occupation(s) | Economist, politician |
| Known for | Governor of the Bank of Uganda (1973–1978), adviser to the President of Uganda |
Angelo Onegi Obel (4 April 1932 – 16 December 2008) was a prominent Ugandan economist and political figure who acted as an adviser to the President of Uganda and held the position of Governor of the Bank of Uganda between 1973 and 1978.
Background and education
Obel was born in Pacego Pumvuga, located in Panyango sub-county within Jonam County, part of present-day Nebbi District, which was formerly included in West Nile District. His early education began at Ngetta Catholic Primary School in Lira, followed by attendance at St. Aloysius College in Nyapea, where he completed his studies in 1948. He pursued secondary education at Namilyango College, obtaining the Ordinary Cambridge School Certificate in 1953, and later acquired the Advanced Cambridge School Certificate through international correspondence courses.
He attained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Assumption University in Canada, subsequently earning a Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Toronto. Obel returned to Uganda in 1965.
Career
Following his graduation from Namilyango College, Obel commenced his career with the Uganda Government as a clerical officer specializing in accounting duties based in Lira and Arua. After completing further academic pursuits in Canada, he joined the Ministry of Finance where he served as Commissioner for Taxation. In 1968, he was appointed deputy governor of the Bank of Uganda, a post he maintained until 1973 when he advanced to Governor, a position he occupied until 1978.
Obel also participated as an elected member of the Constituent Assembly responsible for drafting Uganda's 1995 constitution. His commitment to economic progress and infrastructure development occasionally resulted in disputes, notably including a legal challenge in 2006 concerning a bridge construction project that affected the livelihoods of local farmers.
Other considerations
Angelo Onegi Obel passed away on 16 December 2008 due to natural causes. He left behind his spouse, Agnes Atoh, along with several children and grandchildren. Among his descendants, his son Geoffrey Onegi Obel notably held the role of Chairman at the National Social Security Fund, an integral organization within Uganda’s social security framework.