Mar Ukva was a first generation Amora (Talmud era sage) who served as the Reish Galusa. The Reish Galusa was the title for the leader of the Jews in Babylonia. He was a student of the famous Shmuel, but the latter would honor his student due to his position of leadership. A famous story of Mar Ukva and his wife involved them both hiding in a furnace that had just recently been swept and was still burning. Apparently, Mar Ukva would anonymously slip four zuzim under the door of a poor man. One day, the poor man tried to figure out who his benefactor was. Mar Ukva and his wife ran into the furnace to avoid shaming the pauper and getting found out.

Mar Ukva is buried in the cliffs outside Achbara in the ruins of Chakuv based on the testimony of Rabbi Chaim Vital in the name of the Arizal.;

Resh Galusa Mar Ukva served as Resh Galusa, the equivalent of the position 'Nasi' in Bavel. He was a descendant of the House of Dovid, coming from Yehoyachin and Zerubavel ben Shaltiel. It is most probable that he replaced Rav Huna the First as the head of the Diaspora. He carried the title 'Mar' like all other members of the royal family. While studying Torah, Mar Ukva would sit four amos in front of Shmuel like a student before his master since Shumel was greater in Torah. When they sat to rule judgments, Shmuel would sit before Mar Ukva due to his position of Resh Galusa.