Rebbeca Odongkara Abitimo, 89, the first female owner of a private nursery and primary school in northern Uganda has died.
Abitimo passed on Sunday at Kampala International Hospital in Kampala. Cause of death, Acholi Times understands, was asthma.
Abitimo founded Unifat nursery and primary school in Gulu town in 1985. She was also the director of the organization ‘’Unified for Unifat’’ which has supported orphans since 1983.
Betty Aol Ocan the woman member of parliament for Gulu district expressed sadness over her death. The legislator described Ms Abitimo as a tireless fighter who helped many children during the insurgency in northern Uganda.
For much of Monday, her former students, most of whom passed through Unifat Primary school, praised her role in their education.
‘‘Rest in Peace “proprietor” as we used to call you! I am going to her burial in my UNIFAT school uniform in honor of Mego for she gave so many of us a foundation of a life time,’’ Labeja Julius Gunya, a former student posted on Facebook on Monday.
Oyet Samuel Agwani, a former youth Councillor for Laroo division and a teacher at Unifat primary school expressed deep sorrow over her death describing it as a loss. He said Ms Abitimo has been the pillar of education in Northern Uganda and will not be forgotten.
Burial arrangements for the late Abitimo is ongoing. Her body is still at Kampala International Hospital.
Ms Rebbeca Odongkara Abitimo was awarded Uganda`s best woman achiever by government of Uganda in 2008.
In 2015, she again received a medal from president Museveni for her role in supporting orphans.
