It is with a heavy heart that Rotary District 5300 announces the passing of Rotary International President-elect Sam Owori. Owori passed away on July 13, 2017 after complications from surgery.
Owori was a member of the Rotary Club of Kampala, Uganda. He joined Rotary in 1978, and served as District Governor in Uganda, working tirelessly to engage women within Rotary, as well as youth participants, alumni, and community members.
Owori was chief executive officer of the Institute of Corporate Governance of Uganda. Before that, he was executive director of the African Development Bank, managing director of Uganda Commercial Bank Ltd., and director of Uganda Development Bank. He had studied law, employment relations, business management, corporate resources management, microfinance, and marketing at institutions in England, Japan, Switzerland, Tanzania, and the United States, including Harvard Business School.
Beyond serving as Governor of District 9200, Owori had served in a number of positions within Rotary, including regional Rotary Foundation coordinator, regional RI membership coordinator, RI Representative to the United Nations Environment Program and UN-Habitat, and RI director. He also served as member or chair of several committees, including the International PolioPlus Committee, the Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force, and the Audit Committee. Most recently, Owori served as trustee of The Rotary Foundation, chair of The Rotary Foundation’s Finance Committee, and a member of the Investment Committee.
Owori is survived by his wife, Norah, and their three adult sons, and three grandchildren. Final arrangements are pending.