Africa-Press – Uganda. The former executive director of the National Information Technology Authority (NITA-U) James Saka is dead.
NITA-U spokesperson Angella Ndagano confirmed the death but noted that they were yet to get full details from the family. A family member noted that Saka passed away at Case Medical Centre where he had been admitted.
Saka had stepped down in August this year as NITA-U Executive Director, a position he had held for the last ten years. Colleagues at NITA-U who worked with the deceased described him as an icon and a father figure.
“He was a force of nature. He got things done and he loved and loved his work very much. When he decided to do something, he did not stop until it was done. He was a very energetic person he would enter a room and you know he had entered. He loved his country at heart, he loved his children and walked with them to class every day. He grew an organisation from scratch to the point where it is now,” Vivian Ddambya Director Technical services at NITA.
When asked why he wasn’t seeking another term of office? Saka noted that “I must say I have played my part and I’m glad to pass on the mantle. You should also know that the NITA-U Act mandates the Executive Director to serve for not more than 10 years. In August, I will have served my 10 years.”
Asked on what he would do after his term had ended? Saka noted that “I will continue to serve Uganda and share my ICT knowledge and experience to contribute to Uganda’s social-economic development. I’m also part of the 70% of Ugandans employed in agriculture and a passionate one at that, so I will definitely be spending quite some time tending to my farm. My team and I have created an enabling environment that will allow people like me or anyone in the private sector to continue to contribute to the Digitalization effort from outside of NITA-U.”
