Dr Martin Aliker laid to rest
GULUT CITY | The late Doctor Martin Aliker was laid to rest in his home village in Aworonga, Gulu City, on the evening of Sunday, April 21.
The former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, who was a professional dental surgeon, an entrepreneur and a businessman died at the age of 95.
Subsquently, Doctor Martin Aliker was accorded a state burial for his enormous contribution to the development of the nation.
Dr Aliker is greatly remembered for supporting and promoting education and due to this, President Yoweri Museveni gave a directive for a three-gun salute to be included as part of an official sendoff.
The chief mourner, Vice-President Jessica Alupo, represented the President, and handed over Shs10 million to the family.
In his message delivered by VP Alupo, President Museveni described Dr Aliker as a mentor, and a great contributor to the development of Uganda.
"In 1996, I appointed Dr Martin Aliker as a minister of state for foreign affairs, there was no better person at that time to help us recover the image of Uganda which had faced challenges over a long time," Mr Museveni said.
"The country has therefore lost a mentor, an advisor and an intellectual who provided guidance and advice whenever he was called upon to do so."
Alupo said Dr Aliker had supported President Museveni more than once (2001 and 2006) during the presidential elections where he donated generously toward his campaign exercise.
Dr Aliker left an indelible mark and legacy where he stood the test of time, not not as an attributed scholar but also conveyed his impeccable integrity and distinguished source of inspiration to many.
"My father has projected an enviable brand that transcended beyond professionalism, he was a hardworking man, a story teller, a great dad and wonderful husband to my mother his wife. all my life i had never seen my father pick a fight with my mother," said Phillip Aliker, son of the deceased dental surgeon and entrepreneur.
The late Dr Aliker is survived by four children, Julie a teacher, Martin an athlete, Philip an economist and lawyer, and Paul Okello a dentist.
He was the first Ugandan to ever open up a dentistry practicing clinic owned by an African making him first ever successful private practice dentist
The widow Camille Aliker eulogised her husband for his love, brevity and love for human kind.
"Martin was a family man, he loved me so much and loved his children so dearly. All he ever wished was the joy and peace of his family," she said.
Among the other dignitaries that attended the burial was the minister of Justice and constitutional affairs Norbert Mao, Minister of disaster preparedness Hillary Onek, minister of state for Northern Uganda Kenneth Omona, Members of Parliament, and army generals.
