UPDF Honors Pioneer Aircraft Engineer and Record Blood Donor with Military Send-off

The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) accorded a full military send-off, complete with a three-gun salute, to the late Captain (Rtd) Engineer John Baptist Egessa. The solemn final rites took place on Sunday evening at his ancestral home in Buchirayi village, Masaba Sub-county, Busia District.

At 79 years old, Egessa was remembered as a trailblazer who served as a pioneer aeronautical engineer. Beyond his distinguished technical contributions to the nation, he was celebrated across Uganda as a record-breaking voluntary blood donor. Health advocates and community members credit his decades of consistent donations with saving more than 4,500 lives.

Despite his extraordinary contributions to public service and healthcare, the poignant ceremony highlighted the difficult circumstances of his final years. Mourners noted that Egessa spent the twilight of his life grappling with extreme poverty and neglect, a stark contrast to the immense value he brought to the country.

Family, friends, and military personnel gathered to celebrate a life defined by quiet sacrifice and dedication. While the recognition came late, the military honors served as a fitting tribute to a man who literally gave his blood and technical expertise to build and sustain the nation.

Read more about this story in the Daily Monitor.