It is with deep sadness and fond memories that the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has learned of the passing of Stephen Abima, former General Secretary of the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers’ Union of Uganda (ATGWU). He passed away on 12 December 2025.
Stephen’s journey in the labour movement began in the early 2000s as a shop steward and later chief shop steward at Uganda Airlines’ Newrest Inflight Services. He went on to join the union full time, working in the accounts department before serving as Civil Aviation Section Secretary and Youth Projects Officer.
After returning from Germany, where he obtained a postgraduate degree in labour studies, Stephen was elected General Secretary of ATGWU in 2017. In 2022, he was re-elected for a second term. He also served as Deputy Secretary General of the national trade union centre, the National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU).
Within the ITF, Stephen was elected to the Executive Board at the 44th ITF Congress in Singapore in 2018, where he was a committed and respected voice for African transport workers.
Stephen’s activism and leadership were instrumental in strengthening his union and expanding the recognition and organisation of transport workers in the informal sector, ensuring that some of the most marginalised workers had a collective voice.
ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton said: “Abima was a principled, committed trade unionist who never lost sight of who unions exist for. He believed deeply in organising, in youth leadership, and in building strong, democratic unions. His contribution to the ITF and to the Ugandan trade union movement will be remembered with respect and gratitude.”
After spending time in both ITF and our sister federation the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) for personal development, he was a firm believer in union solidarity and was personally committed to a delivery-based model. In Uganda he built alliances with groups of precarious workers to strengthen their voice nationally and internationally. Nobody worked harder or understood the importance of the collective better, irrespective of your individual perspective in the Global North or South.
The ITF Africa Regional Secretary, Mohammed Dauda Safiyanu, added: “We have lost a jovial but firm leader whose passion for inclusivity was truly inspiring. With his strong support, his union organised youth camps annually, and we hope this unique initiative continues to flourish in his memory.”
The ITF expresses its deepest condolences to Stephen’s family, colleagues, and friends. He will be remembered as a dedicated leader, a mentor to young workers, and a steadfast advocate for justice and solidarity.
