Gulu female educationist 'Mama Abitimo' dies

Rebecca Odongkara, the first female proprietor of the first private nursery and primary school in northern Uganda, has died.

Popularly known as Mama Abitimo, she was the proprietor of Unifat Primary School in Gulu and founder of ‘Unified for Unifat', an organization supporting orphans.

She succumbed to asthma on Sunday from Kampala International Hospital.

Oyet Samuel Agwani, a teacher at Unifat confirmed her death to Rupiny Sunday evening.

By that time, she said Mama Abitimo's body was still at the hospital in Kampala awaiting transportation to Gulu.

In 2008, the government of Uganda awarded her with a medal for Best Woman Achiever in Uganda and again last year, President Yoweri Museveni awarded with a medal for her efforts in supporting orphans.

‘Unified for unifat' has so far supported over 1,000 orphans from across the country since its inception in 1983.

Mama Abitimo's husband John Brown Odongkara died 12 years ago after serving as a police officer in Obote's government and also as a district administrator of Gulu.

She is survived by three children, Joseph Odongkara, Naume, and Oloya Aron.

She attained a degree in Community Development and Masters in Special Needs Education from the US in 1979.