East African Affairs Minister, Gen. Kahinda Otafiire has described the National Resistance Army historical member Oliver Zizinga as a patriot who was straight-forward during the busy war struggles.
“It is unfortunate she has passed on. She was a very Jolly, hardworking and straight forward patriot during our struggle. The country will miss her dearly” Gen. Otafiire told Eagle Online by phone this evening.
Otafiire joins Uganda People’s Defence Forces in mourning Ms Zizinga who died at the rank Major.
UPDF spokesperson, Brig Gen Flavia Byekwaso said Maj Zizinga died Saturday at Medipal Hospital Kololo in Kampala.
“The UPDF family commiserates with the family of our NRA historical Maj Oliver Zizinga who passed on today at 10:00am at Medipal Hospital Kololo. Your struggle to liberate Uganda was not in vain. May the Lord rest her soul in perfect peace,” Brig Gen Byekwaso tweeted Saturday.
Maj Zizinga is one the better known women whose contribution helped bring the current government into power.
She’s one of the women who were actively deployed in battles against the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) between 1981 and 1986.
Three of Zizinga’s children were killed in 1980 by UNLA soldiers. That incident made her vow to support anyone who would fight them. She joined the NRA as a mobiliser doing clandestine work.
Maj. Zizinga and Gertrude Njuba were charged with taking care of the NRA rebel leader Yoweri Museveni and they were among a few female combatants who joined the Luwero bush war.
