Zeddy Maruru

Zeddy Marurualso known as Zed Maruru

Early life and education Zeddy Maruru was born on 3 February 1942 in Rushenyi Village, in present-day Ntungamo District. He attended Rwamanyonyi Boys School and Kitunga Primary School. He then transferred to Mbarara High School, before completing his O-Level studies at Ntare School in 1960. Maruru subsequently attended Royal Technical College, in Nairobi, Kenya. He studied pre-engineering courses for two years. He then dropped out of the technical school, after attaining his A-Level Certificate. He returned to Uganda to help his father raise funds to educate his younger siblings. In 1974, he was made acting commander of the Uganda Army Air Force. In December 1975, Maruru was relieved of his duties as Air Force Commander. At some point, he became a member of the militant anti-Amin opposition. Maruru joined the Save Uganda Movement (SUM) which intended to overthrow the Ugandan President through guerrilla attacks, helping to set up the group's command center in Tanzania. At some point during the Uganda–Tanzania War, he became one of the top commanders of the Kikosi Maalum, a contingent of Ugandan rebel troops commanded by Tito Okello and Oyite Ojok. He met NRA leader Yoweri Museveni at Kampala's Republic House, telling him that he was content to be treated as prisoner of war or be released. To his surprise, Museveni offered him a job in the NRA. Maruru accepted, and went on to serve in Uganda's new national army.

Later life In 1990, Maruru was appointed as General Manager of Uganda Air Cargo, a state-owned airline that operated passengers and cargo flights. Maruru retired in 2002. In his later life he suffered from hypertension. He died on 11 January 2014 at Mulago Hospital in Kampala.

Personal life According to his brother Ham Tumuhairwe, Maruru was not very religious and "never liked going to church".