KAMPALA, Uganda — Workers’ organizations across Uganda are in mourning following the sudden death of Comrade Stephen Abima, General Secretary of the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers’ Union (ATGWU), union officials confirmed on Friday.
Abima, a prominent labour leader and candidate for the Workers’ Member of Parliament (MP) seat in the 2026–2031 electoral cycle, passed away at St. Francis Hospital Nsambya on Friday morning, according to close associates.
He reportedly collapsed suddenly and was rushed to the facility, where he was later pronounced dead.
The official cause of his death has not yet been established and awaits further medical and family confirmation.
Union members and workers’ rights activists expressed deep shock at Abima’s passing, describing him as an influential organiser and a committed advocate for improved labour conditions.
In his role as ATGWU General Secretary, Abima was widely respected within Uganda’s labour movement and beyond for championing workers’ welfare and stronger trade union representation.
He also served as Deputy Secretary General of the National Organization of Trade Unions (NOTU), the country’s largest labour federation representing hundreds of thousands of formal and informal sector workers.
Abima was considered a key voice in efforts to strengthen collective bargaining, expand union membership, and address worker exploitation across sectors.
He had been actively campaigning for labour reforms and the empowerment of workers in the run-up to the 2026 general elections, urging broader union participation and organisational revitalisation.
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Tributes poured in from colleagues, union affiliates, and political figures. Many highlighted Abima’s dedication to transport and general workers, including those in informal employment, a group that has historically faced challenges in gaining legal protection and collective voice.
Under his leadership, the ATGWU continued efforts to organise workers in increasingly precarious sectors of the economy and to engage with policymakers on labour rights and social protections.
The union has not yet announced arrangements for memorial services or funeral proceedings, pending family consultations.
Abima’s sudden passing represents a significant loss for Uganda’s labour movement at a moment of heightened public discourse around workers’ rights, wages, and representation in Parliament.
