While the Guji people have made immense contributions to the Oromo liberation struggle, the name of one of their greatest sons, Jeneraal Xulaa Duubee, remains tragically unsung and overlooked, even on his own land.

Jeneraal Xulaa Duubee was among the pioneering founders of the OLF (ABO) and is still alive today. Yet, few know his story, and there is a profound lack of institutions dedicated to researching, documenting, and celebrating his legacy.

His record is one of extraordinary dedication. As a leader for over 120 years, he organized and led the resistance from Guji and Bale all the way to Mogadishu, cementing his place as a formidable figure in Oromo history. Jeneraal Xulaa was not only a hero who humiliated the Naafxanyas; he was also a warrior of legendary prowess, known for single-handedly repelling a unit of five Kenyan soldiers in mere minutes.

Historical accounts confirm that during a period of national political amnesty, when many veterans returned from the struggle due to old age, Jeneraal Xulaa Duubee did the opposite. He left a life of comfort and returned to the forest to continue his relentless campaign against the Naafxanya forces.

Born into a lineage of heroes, Jeneraal Xulaa dedicated his entire life to the Oromo cause. Unlike other historical figures whose stories are told and retold, his narrative has been obscured and neglected, hidden from the recognition it deserves.

Ironically, the story of this Oromo hero and sage is celebrated more among Somalis than among his own people. At a time when the Oromo were fighting with confiscated weapons, a delegation went to Somalia to seek support from the Somali government. The key intermediaries for the Oromo heroes from the Badda and Gammojji zones of Guji were none other than Jeneraal Xulaa Duubee and Haaji Quxxaa Dambii. It was they who facilitated contact with figures like Jeneraal Waaqoo Guutuu, then a diplomat, to secure the weapons they needed.

Jeneraal Xulaa Duubee led the OLF for many long years. However, when the OLF was sidelined and handed over to the TPLF, he was captured as a member of its military wing and exiled to the Gammojji refugee camp in Kenya. In the end, it was only the faction led by Jeneraal Xulaa that refused to surrender.