Uganda’s diplomatic community is in mourning following the death of Martha Okumu Ringa, a seasoned Foreign Service officer. Ringa, daughter of former Minister of Public Service and philanthropist Patrick Aloysius Okumu Ringa, passed away on Wednesday, January 29th, in Rome, Italy, where she was stationed at the Ugandan Embassy.
The news was confirmed by Vincent Bagiire, Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Ministry, who expressed deep sorrow over her passing. The Ministry is currently working on arrangements to repatriate her body to Uganda for burial.
According to Margaret Kafeero, head of Public Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ringa suffered a compound fracture in an accident at the Embassy last week. She underwent an initial surgery and was scheduled for a second procedure when she suffered a fatal heart attack while being attended to by a nurse. Family members also revealed that Ringa had been battling hypertension for several years.
Ringa dedicated over a decade to Uganda’s diplomatic service, serving in key roles both at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in foreign missions. From 2013 to 2018, she served as a Foreign Service Officer at the Uganda High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa. Her responsibilities included promoting Uganda’s interests in South Africa, Namibia, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Botswana, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe, handling visa and consular services, representing Uganda in official engagements, and supporting the Ugandan diaspora.
Prior to her posting in Pretoria, Ringa worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kampala as a Third Secretary (2009–2013). In this role, she played a crucial part in regional diplomacy, coordinating Uganda’s engagements with the East African Community (EAC) and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), with a particular focus on advocating for women’s rights and regional integration policies.
Ringa also played a significant role in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ communications department. She was instrumental in liaising with the media and enhancing Uganda’s public diplomacy efforts, building strong relationships with journalists to ensure effective communication of the Ministry’s policies, diplomatic engagements, and key decisions.
Officials have described Ringa’s passing as a great loss to Uganda’s diplomatic service, recognizing her professionalism, dedication, and extensive network both within Uganda and abroad. Tributes have poured in from colleagues and officials, acknowledging her years of dedicated service to Uganda’s foreign relations.
“Known for her warmth and kindness, Martha was a friend to many and will be deeply missed,” said Patrick Oyulu, a friend. Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced by the Foreign Ministry. Her father, Aloysius Okumu Ringa, passed away in 2023.
