The Foundation will focus on providing college and university scholarships to students with stellar academic credentials, especially young girls. Jennifer Akello, a first year student at Kyambogo University is the first scholarship recipient pursuing Bachelor of Procurement and Logistics Management.
ANT Party President Maj Gen (Rtd) Gregg Mugisha Muntu giving key note address during launch of Barbara Allimadi Foundation in Gulu City - Photo by Dominic Ochola
The family
and friends of the late freedom fighter, Barbara Ann Allimadi, backed by the
Alliance for National Transformation – ANT party on Sunday launched a
foundation in Gulu City to sanctify and uphold her legacy of activism .
The late
Allimadi who died at the age of 47, rose to fame in 2012 following her solidarity defiant
bra protest with Ingrid Turinawe, an official of the Forum for Democratic – FDC
party women’s league wing during the walk to work demo.
Allimadi and
other female civil rights activists protested against police at Kampala Central
Police Station by publicly displaying open their bras to condemn an act of brutality. However, in April 27, 2020 she was discovered dead at her apartment in
Kiwatule, a suburb of Kampala.
Bishop
Emeritus of Kitgum Diocese McLeod Baker Ochola who led a funeral mass at Palema
Crown Hotel to eulogize Barbara on her first anniversary, described the late
Barbara as a star who stood firm for justice and peace for all Ugandans.
//Cue in..."She stood firm….
Cue out… legacy in life.”//
Also, Barbara’s
elder brother Milton Allimadi revealed that as siblings, they always warned the
late to step aside from frontline activism due to the high handedness of the
NRM government against unrelenting opponents.
//Cue in..."We as siblings….
Cue out… to the struggle.”//
Milton, who
connected to the luncheon event virtually from New York City, USA observed that
the family rolled out Barbara Allimadi Foundation – BAF to preserve and promote
Barbara’s noble vision of fighting to promote freedom and democracy.
Nonetheless, Dr. Olara Otunnu, a long
time friend to the Allimadi family noted that parents in Acholi and Uganda at
large must invest in the education of the girl child to reproduce more freedom
fighters like late Barbara Allimadi.
//Cue in..."For us to honor….
Cue out…Barbara Allimadi.”//
ANT President Maj. Gen (Rtd) Gregg Mugisha
Muntu, who delivered a key note address at the event lauded the late Barbara Allimadi for being principled, assertive and a concrete pillar
upon which the party was formed.
Muntu
described Barbara Allimadi as a focused and relentless political and human
rights activist whose commitment and broad networking and mobilization ability
had started to antagonize the ruling National Resistance Movement - NRM regime
under President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
//Cue in..."She remained…
Cue out…the regime circle.”//
Several dignitaries including cultural,
religious, political leaders including members of the academia attended the Foundation’s
launch. Up to 6,650,000 million shillings was raised in pledges to support BAF.aa
The Foundation
will focus on providing college and university
scholarships to students with stellar academic credentials, especially young
girls. Jennifer Akello, a first year student at Kyambogo University is the
first scholarship recipient pursuing a Bachelor of Procurement and Logistics
Management.
Barbara
Allimadi, was also the ANT party’s Secretary for International Affairs
coordinating Ugandans in the diaspora. She was the daughter of Erifasi Otema Allimadi, who
was Uganda’s Foreign Minister and later 3rd Prime Minister in UPC
government led by Apollo Milton Obote between 1980-1985.
Ochola's journalism career begun from Radio King 90.2 FM in Gulu around 2009, and Radio Rupiny 95.7 Fm under Vision Group in 2012. He also reported for Mighty Fire 91.5 Fm, Kitgum in 2015 before joining Wizarts Foundation in 2017.
He has been reporting for Uganda Radio Network (URN) since 2017 before being posted as Bureau Chief Kitgum, and latr Gulu between 2018 - 2021. Currently, he reports from Parliament.