Maiku Azuro Zachary: The Man Who Bound Books and Built Bonds

On August 10, 2026, St. Anthony Catholic Church in Entebbe became a place of remembrance for family, friends and former colleagues of Maiku Azuro Zachary, who died a day earlier, on August 9.They gathered to bid farewell to a man whose working life was spent quietly among paper, thread and bindings, but whose influence reached far beyond the workbench.

For more than three decades, Zachary served at the Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation (UPPC), rising to become a Senior Book Binder. To those who worked alongside him, though, he was much more than his job title. He was a hardworking craftsman, a trusted colleague, a man of principle and courage, and a friend whose relationships endured long after he left the workplace.

Charles Soul Wanduyi, who joined UPPC in 1987 and worked closely with Zachary after he joined the corporation two years later, recalled a colleague who earned the respect and trust of those around him.“I joined UPPC in 1987. In 1989, the late Zachary Azuro joined us. I worked closely with him,” Wanduyi said.

He described Zachary as a good and hardworking man whose commitment to his work earned him the confidence of his colleagues. That trust, he said, saw Zachary serve at one time as the union secretary.“He was our secretary of the union because we trusted him that much. He was so productive in this section and was one of our specialists. So, as a section, we were sad when he retired in 2024. I was so saddened by his death. May his soul rest in peace,” Wanduyi said.

The tribute reflects the esteem in which Zachary was held by colleagues who spent much of their working lives beside him. His retirement in 2024 marked the end of a career spanning more than 35 years, but his death has brought back memories of the man behind the work.

A Career Formed in the Shadows of the Page

Zachary worked in a profession whose practitioners rarely receive public recognition. A finished book displays the name of its author and publisher, but rarely those of the artisans who assembled its pages and gave the publication its physical form. Zachary was one of those unseen craftsmen.

As Senior Book Binder, he worked with the precision and patience his trade demanded. He understood that a single misaligned section or poorly fitted cover could compromise an entire publication. He took pride in getting the job right.

“He had a remarkable gift for lifting spirits, using his gentle humour to bring a smile to everyone’s face around him, no matter how difficult their day was,” Ms. Sarah Nabirye, UPPC Human Resource Manager, said during the funeral service. Her tribute captured one of the qualities colleagues associated most closely with Zachary: his ability to make people laugh without making light of their difficulties. In a demanding work environment, his humour offered moments of relief and brought people together.

Alongside his warmth, Zachary possessed a strong moral compass. He was unwilling to remain silent when he believed something was wrong.

Mr. Oluka Kenneth, a former Publishing Manager, recalled Zachary’s courage and willingness to confront institutional challenges. “God gifted him with a spirit of courage and bravery. He kept us on our toes because he would not keep quiet about something wrong, and that helped guide us all. He was truly special,” Mr. Oluka remarked.

These qualities carried Zachary through major changes in the printing industry. When he joined UPPC, printing looked vastly different from the industry he left. Technology changed, work processes became increasingly digital, and generations of employees passed through the corporation. Zachary remained a steady presence through these changes.

Bookbinding demanded patience and precision. The work he did travelled far beyond the printing floor. Textbooks, legal documents and other publications bound by his hands found their way into schools, government offices, libraries and homes across Uganda. The people who used them might never have known his name, but he understood the importance of the work entrusted to him.

Bonds That Outlasted the Workbench

The gathering at St. Anthony Catholic Church brought together UPPC’s executive leadership, current staff, retired colleagues, family and friends. Their presence offered a measure of the relationships Zachary built during his career.Some had not worked with him for years, yet they returned to remember a colleague whose professional commitment was matched by warmth and friendship.

Even after he left UPPC in 2024, the relationships he had built over decades endured. Colleagues remembered the shared jokes, professional disagreements and everyday moments that became cherished memories with time. His retirement ended his daily presence at the corporation, but not his place in the memories of those who had worked with him. He remained part of the institution’s history through the people whose lives he touched.

Some lives are measured by titles, awards and public recognition. Zachary’s legacy is found in the people who remember him. Their memories present a portrait of a craftsman who knew when to break the tension with a joke, when to listen and when to speak up. His story, therefore, extends beyond the walls of UPPC. Those who gathered to mourn him came to honour a career, but also to celebrate a life rooted in family, faith and community.

Behind the title of Senior Book Binder was a devoted husband, a loving father, a reliable relative and a cherished friend. 

May his soul rest in peace.