The education community is mourning the death of Dr Henry Stanley Okia, the long-serving principal of Hillside Schools Naalya, who passed away on Thursday, 20 August 2026. Dr Okia collapsed at a medical facility where he had gone for a heart-related check-up. He was later pronounced dead at Case Hospital in Kampala. He had earlier been diagnosed with diabetes and was reported to have experienced some heart-related issues. He had appeared in high spirits just days earlier during the school’s Cultural Day on 15 August. Dr Okia’s career in education spanned more than four decades. He began teaching in the early 1980s after training at Namutamba Primary Teachers’ College in Mityana District. He taught at several schools, including Narambhai Road Primary School in Jinja and Nakasero Primary School in Kampala, before moving into private education. He served as head teacher at Lakeside Academy in Entebbe, helped establish Entebbe Junior School, and later joined Hillside Schools Naalya, where he led the nursery and primary sections for over two decades. In addition to his administrative role, Dr Okia earned a PhD in Education from Kyambogo University. His doctoral research focused on support supervision and teacher performance in government-aided primary schools in the Teso sub-region. Vice President Jessica Alupo was among those who paid tribute, recalling a recent discussion with him about establishing a school in Katakwi District. Parents, colleagues and former students have remembered him as an accessible, committed and mentoring leader. Burial arrangements are expected to be announced by the family and school management. King Musah Media extends heartfelt condolences to the family of Dr Henry Stanley Okia, the Hillside Schools community, and the wider education fraternity. May his soul rest in eternal peace.