Barbra Allimadi Foundation Launched in Memory of Her Freedom Fighting Legacy

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.