By Jill Ainebyoona and Karane Tuhirirwe
Makerere University and the entire country will miss Justice Mary Stella Arach-Amoko for upholding the judicial oath of truthfully exercising the judicial functions in the capacities she served.
Her Worship, Stella Okwong Paculal, one of her daughters who is currently the Ag. Senior Principal Magistrate Grade One at Entebbe Magistrate Court, says Arach devotedly served Uganda, in all the positions in which God blessed her to serve. She attributes her diligence to Makerere University which nurtured her.
“She gave her country an unblemished service, where she strongly hated corruption and any form of bribery at all times,” says Paculal.
Arach joined Makerere University in 1975, after completing her A-Levels at Mt. St. Mary’s Namagunga. She graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 1978.
While at Makerere, she resided in Africa Hall, where she was very active in sports as an athlete. Paculal says she was also on the Sports Committee for Africa Hall, where she served with diligence.
After her demise, Rebecca Kadaga tweeted: “Condolences to Ambassador James Idule Amoko and the children. Today my mind has gone back to our days at University and the Law Development Center. Very saddened. MHSRP.”
Justice Stella Arach Amoko at an event organised by the Judiciary
Kadaga, formerly the Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda from 2011-2021, and currently the Minister for East African Affairs and the first Deputy Prime Minister, was one of Arach’s close friends while at Makerere..
Others include the Deputy Chief Justice, Richard Buteera, and Enos Tumusiime, a senior partner at Tumusiime, Kabega and Company Advocates.
After her degree, Arach enrolled for the Diploma in Legal Practice at the Law Development Center (LDC), which she completed in 1979. Thereafter, she worked as a junior state attorney, until she became a senior state attorney in 1989.
Paculal noted that, “She rose through the ranks due to her diligence and intelligence, until she was appointed a member of the Judicial Service Commission, a position she held until her demise.”
Beyond her judicial duties, Arach was a caring mother—a parent who had over 15 children at her home, among which only three were her biological children, observes Paculal. She adds that up until now, many people didn't know that she was not Amoko’s biological daughter.
“My mother is a biological sister to Justice Arach. She took me in at the age of six after the death of my father, Manasseh Okwong,” says Paculal, adding that they had such a close relationship that she was given her name Stella. “People were wondering how we could share the same name with my mother,” she says.
Her Worship Stella Okwong Paculal, Ag. Senior Principal Magistrate Grade One at Entebbe Magistrate Court
Arach took Paculal to the very schools she went to, that is Mt. St. Mary’s Namagunga and Makerere University, where she studied Law, just like her. She always wished her the best.
Justice Arach loved Makerere University so much that she used to tell her children that it was the only university with the most valued academic papers, and that the rest were susceptible to questioning.
“She always encouraged me to upgrade and do a Masters in Law at Makerere University, but it has taken me 10 years to enroll for the course. I emulate her, although her shoes are too big for me to step in. I therefore have a lot to do, but I am proud that she defines my life,” says Paculal.
According to Paculal, Arach had a sense of humor and they had fun with her, which explains why she had a lot of friends. She also enjoyed doing community service, and she was a member of the Jonam Women Development Association, which aims at empowering women from Northern Uganda. “She was active in the Nebbi Catholic Parish, loved life, partying, although judicial work confined her much,” notes Paculal.
Arach was married to Ambassador James Idule Amoko. She died on 17th June 2023 at Nakasero Hospital and was survived by three children and grandchildren.
About Stella Arach-Amoko
5th October 1954—Born to Karla and Michael Picho in Arua
1968 — Completed primary education at Ambalal Primary School, Lira
1969-1972 — Completed her O-Levels at Sacred Hearts Secondary School, Gulu
1973-1974 — Completed her A-Levels at Mt. St. Mary’s Namagunga
1975-1978 — Bachelor of Laws at Makerere University
1979— Post-Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice at the Law Development Center
1995 — Commissioner, Civil Litigation
1997 — High Court Judge
2006 — Judge of the East African Court of Justice
2008 — Deputy Principal Judge to the East African Court of Justice
2013 until death — Justice of the Supreme Court of Uganda
2018-2020 — Chairperson Board of Governors, Law Development Center
2018 — Chairperson Senior Counsel Committee
2021 to death — Member of the Judicial Service Commission representing the Judiciary.
Related News
Please join hands with the Makerere University Endowment Fund as it works towards attracting & retaining the best faculty, providing scholarships, and investing in cutting-edge research and technology.