The Uganda Chess national team coach Joachim Okoth has died at the age of 67.
According to sources, Mr. Okoth died because of a heart problem at the start of this week. He died at Uganda heart Institute where he was undergoing treatment.
Mr. Okoth was elected unopposed as the chess national team coach early this year by the new executive committee in power replacing Bob Bibasa.
He played professional chess for 14 years from 1982 to 1996. He was a member of the national Chess Olympic team attending various olympiades starting from 1982 in Luzern, Switzerland.
Okoth also represented Uganda as a player in various chess Olympiad for the national team, featuring five times in 1984, 86, 88, 90, and 92 which was his best year as he scored seven points in Manila, Philippines.
For his education, he attended St. Peter’s College, Tororo for his Secondary School Education from 1968 to 1973 and undertook Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics and Fine Art for his Advanced Level Section.
He joined Makerere University from 1974 -1978 where he pursued a bachelor’s degree in Education (Mathematics s, Chemistry and Physics).
He also worked for the Uganda Commercial Bank Limited as the Assistant Manager from 1981 to 2004, which is now called Stanbic Bank. By the time of his passing on, he was working with Nkwanga Advocates
Okoth’s body will be laid to rest by the end of this week in his ancestral home in Tororo
Uganda Chess national team coach Okoth passes on
