OBITUARIES — Samuel Amukun

Samuel Amukun, exploration manager for Northwest Explorations, has died. He was 57.

Born in Ngora, in eastern Uganda, Amukum obtained a science degree at Colgate University in New York state while on a track-and-field scholarship. He obtained his master’s degree in geology at the University of Manitoba in 1969.

Amukun returned to Uganda to work at the Kilembe mine of Falconbridge but fled to Canada with his wife in 1972 after the rise to power of dictator Idi Amin.

During the next 25 years, Amukun worked as a field geologist for the Ontario Geological Survey, Noranda and Urangesellschaft, and later formed his own consulting business. In 1996, he joined Northwest Explorations and became exploration manager for the company’s Guyanese projects.

Amukun was a member of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada, and the Geological Association of Canada. He also competed in the 100- and 200-metre sprint events in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome and the 1964 Games in Tokyo. He still holds the Ugandan records in those events.

He is survived by Daphne, his wife of 29 years, daughter Nasheba and sons Settu and Mwenu.