Okello Sam

In his own words, "... my relatives, my friends, guys I go to school with, and when I got the news, I just broke down. So I get into my car, driving to the north, just doing it out of anger, out of frustration, so many of the people you know have died and you don’t know what else to do. So we kept on driving, driving, driving and I stopped. And an idea came to my mind."

In 1998, Okello Sam's younger brother, Godfrey, was abducted during school with a group of 50 other children. Okello lived in hope that one day his brother, too, would escape. That is, until one morning, when Okello discovered gruesome photos in the morning newspaper, of 300 people killed in his home village. This included his brother. To honor is brother, Okello created a modern play based on Ugandan and Acholi storytelling and musical traditions which is called "Forged in Fire".

Okello Sam found Hope North in 1998 after his brother's death. Hope North is a school and sanctuary for young victims of the civil war. Hope North assists orphans, refugees, and former child soldiers.

During this time, Okello discovered a dance company called Ndere Troupe and eventually got an interview and was offered to join the company. Through this, Okello's talent as a dancer, musician, actor, choreographer, cultural promoter, trainer, and arts director, became noticed. While in college, Okello married Marian Lubega and in 1994, they had their first child, Lawino Mieke Marilyn.

Okello Sam (born December 8, 1969) is a Ugandan musician, actor, and comedian. He is also the founder of Hope North, a secondary school and sanctuary for young victims of the war, in Uganda.