Africa-Press – Uganda. CELEBRATING LIFE |TRIBUTE There’s no doubt 2020 has been a challenging year marred with deaths like never seen before due to the COVID-19 pandemic and of course other causes.As we come to the end of the year, we celebrate the lives of those who didn’t make it, most notably include:Maj Gen Kasirye GgwangaThe retired senior army officer Maj. Gen. Kasirye Ggwanga, died on Heros’ Day June 09 at Nakasero Hospital in Kampala aged 67.At the end of this Heroes Day speech at State House, President Yoweri Museveni asked those in attendance to stand up for a minute of silence in honour of the fallen army officer.
Ggwanga, a husband and father, was a commercial farmer and owned two farms – one in Mubende and another in Mukono, which he referred to as Camp David.ICT and national guidance minister Judith Nabakooba, speaking at Nakasero Hospital, described Ggwanga as a “true patriot” whose death has left a huge gap.
Maj. Gen. Kasirye Gwanga laid to rest at Nkene Village, Manyi Sub-county, Mityana District on June 12.
****************Col Shaban BantarizaThe Deputy Executive Director of the Uganda Media Centre, Col Shaban Bantariza, died on 27th October. This was confirmed by the spokesperson of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces, Brig. Flavia Byekwaso.
Ofwono Opondo, the government spokesman also confirmed that Bantariza died of COVID-19 and indeed he was buried scientifically on October 29 as guided by the health ministry.
He was laid to rest at his ancestral home in Kagorogoro village, Bitereko sub-county in Mitooma District. *************************Pastor Augustine YigaThe death of Pastor Augustine Yiga a.k.a Abizaayo was announced on October 27.Yiga was the proprietor of the famous Revival Christians Church in the city suburbs of Kawaala and he became popular because of his skillful preaching which many people describe dramatic.
In his testimony before his death, Yiga said he was born in Bukomansimbi district and grew up in a strong Catholic family but dropped out of school in primary four due to his unruly behaviour.Yiga jailedIn April this year, Yiga was sent to jail over his remarks in which he sounded to question the existence of the global deadly COVID-19pandemic.
However, after a couple of weeks in jail, Yiga was granted bail over ill health. He later accepted the offence and went into a plea bargain with the state and the case file was closed.
********************Second Deputy Prime Minister Kirunda KivejinjaThe Second Deputy Prime Minister Kirunda Kivejinja passed away on 20th December 2020 at Mulago National Referral Hospital where he has been admitted for over one month after he tested positive for COVID-19.
The 84-year-old becomes the highest-ranking official to succumb to the virus.Kivejinja was laid to rest at his home in Buwabe village in Bugweri district, with many describing him as a selfless leader and a loving family man.
*****************Sheikh Nuhu MuzaataSheikh Nuhu Muzaata Batte, a Muslim Imam leader in Uganda and head of Dawa in Uganda passed away at International Hospital Kampala on December 04 .
Thousands of mourners across the political and religious divide thronged Kibuli Mosque for the last funeral prayers of Sheikh Muzaata.He was buried on December 05 at Kigogwa, Nansana municipality in Wakiso district.***********************Sheikh Anas Kaliisa Sheikh Anas Kaliisa, a renowned Muslim scholar and senior political analyst on NBS Television passed away on November 4.Dr Kaliisa, the former Director of the Institute of Research and Training was a political analyst on Middle East affairs, and one of the 21 founders and the Managing Director House of Zakat and Waqf Uganda.He was also the Secretary of the Eminent Council of Sheikhs of Uganda and Chairman Muslim Jurists Uganda.Sheikh Kaliisa was buried on November 06 in Ntungamo district.
********************Al Haji Nasser Ntege Sebaggala – SeyaThe former Kampala mayor, Al Haji Nasser Ntege Sebaggala aka Seya died on September 26.His brother and Kawempe North MP, Latif Sebaggala, confirmed the death.
Sebaggala had been admitted to the International Hospital Kampala for two weeks. His son, Abdu Gamel Nasser Ssebaggala, then said his father was referred to the intensive care unit on arrival at the hospital after developing complications in the stomach. Sebaggala was buried at his ancestral home in Kisaasi on October 04.*****************Kyotera Woman MP, Robina SsentongoKyotera Woman MP, Robina Ssentongo succumbed to COVID-19 on December 18.
Ssentongo who was representing Kyotera on the Democratic Party (DP) ticket died at the age of 58.********************Rehema WatongolaKamuli Municipality Member of Parliament Rehema Watongola succumbed to the Covid-19 infection at Mulago National Referral hospital on November 14.
Watongola was the National Resistance Movement (NRM) MP representing Kamuli Municipality.President Museveni on November 16, while addressing a rally in Northern Uganda also warned that COVID-19 was real and that it had claimed the MP’s life.Watongola was laid to rest on November 16 in Kamuli district***********************Pallisa woman MP Faith Alupo deadPallisa District Woman Member of Parliament Faith Alupo died on September 15 at Mulago National Referral Hospital in what sources say was a result of Covid-19 infection.
*******************Freda Nanziri Kase MubandaThe former Masaka district woman MP and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer for the same seat, Freda Nanziri Kase Mubanda, died on December 16 at Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi.
The 76-year-old popularly referred to as Mama Masaka and Girl Mubanda, represented Masaka in the 9th Parliament but lost in the 2016 elections to Democratic Party’s Mary Babirye Kabanda.
Of course many more lives were lost within 2020, including the 251 who succumbed to COVID-19.
