It is quite hard to think of something good to say about 2020. This year’s coronavirus health crisis has left our way of life in shambles. 2020 will be vividly remembered for having had one of the largest single-year death tolls brought on by the outbreak of Covid-19.
The highly infectious viral disease has killed millions worldwide. Locally as of December 25, 2020, official statistics from the ministry of Health show that at least 245 Ugandans have died from Covid-19 while the cumulative confirmed cases have shot to 33,563 since the disease emerged in the country in March.
YUDAYA NANGONZI brings you some of the notable deaths of 2020.
JANUARY
Edris Mayanja Njuki, 72, a former President Idi Amin press secretary, succumbed to diabetes and kidney failure at Case Medical Center. He was an Islamic scholar who served in Amin’s government in the 1970s. He also worked with the then ministry of Information and Broadcasting as an information officer in the 1960s.
Prof Johnson Opio Acon – Renowned veterinary doctor and one of the founders of Uganda Society for Protection and Care of Animals (USPCA) died at Independent hospital in Ntinda. Prof Acon joined Makerere University in 1979 as a special assistant at the department of Veterinary Clinical Studies.
At the time of his death, he was working as a senior veterinary surgeon at the department of Veterinary Pharmacy, Clinical and Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-Security (COVAB). Maj Naomi Karungi – The Uganda People's Defence Air Force (UPDAF) pilot died in a helicopter crash.
Her young career in aviation was cut short after an army helicopter crashed at Ndeese village in Bulo, in the central Butambala district. Karungi died while instructing her colleague Lt Benon Wokalo.
FEBRUARY
Daniel Toroitich arap Moi, 95, – Former Kenyan president died at Nairobi hospital after a long illness. He ruled Kenya for 24 years until retirement in 2002. He was instrumental in the rebirth of the East African Community (EAC) integration in 1999.
Maj Gen Benon Biraaro – At 61, the former presidential candidate died at Kampala hospital from advanced cancer of the colon. He served as secretary of the NRA high command during the bush war, deputy principal secretary to Museveni after 1986, Kitgum district special administrator, deputy commandant of the National Leadership Institute Kyankwanzi and, commander of the military police.
After serving as Uganda’s military attaché in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, he was recalled and retired from the army in 2014. Sheikh Masuudi Mutumba – After the rampant killings by shooting of Muslim clerics in previous years, Mutumba, 63, was also gunned down at his home in Busimba village in Bugiri district.
He was shot twice in the head as he moved out to meet an unknown person. He was an imam at Iwemba mosque in Bugiri. Dr Simon Kagugube – A lawyer, corporate executive and taxation expert, Kagugube, 64, succumbed to heart complications. He had been suffering from diabetes for the last 10 years.
At the time of his death, he was the executive director at Centenary bank, and board chairman at Uganda Revenue Authority. Nikita Pearl Waligwa – She starred in the 2016 Disney film, Queen of Katwe. At 15 years, she was felled by a brain tumor.
She acted as Gloria in the film that centered on a Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi. Ritah Nabukenya – In death, she gripped social media. She was run over by a police pickup truck in Nakawa. Nabukenya, 28, a People Power movement supporter, died as she rode to Nakawa market.
Police roundly denied having a role in her death. She fell off the motorcycle and sustained fatal injuries, police said. The police patrol truck instead helped transport her to Mulago hospital where she passed on.
MARCH
Francis Kakumba – The businessman who owned several properties downtown died from cancer of the throat at Nakasero hospital. Kakumba, 65, was also the proprietor of Haks Investments, a car bond. Dr Eric Accellam Labeja – The renowned Ugandan medical consultant died of Covid-19 at King’s College hospital in the UK.
Labeja, 75, worked with the Lewisham University hospital in the UK. He suffered a stroke. He was cared for at home before his condition deteriorated and was moved into intensive care unit. He was one of the National Health Service (NHS) workers who died after being infected with the virus.
APRIL
Maj (rtd) Kanuti Akorimo – He lowered the Union Jack (British Flag) and hoisted the Uganda flag to mark the birth of its independence on October 9, 1962. He died at Atutur hospital in the eastern Kumi district. Kanuti, 89, succumbed to aspiration pneumonia following a stroke a year ago.
Barbara Allimadi – A political activist and former International Affairs secretary of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) party, was found dead in her house in Kitawule by one of her cousins. The cause of her death remains unknown. MAY Dr Martin Kalyemenya – Mulago hospital's longest serving pathologist died after collapsing in a bathroom at his home in Nabweru, Nansana municipality.
On admission at Mulago, doctors concluded that he suffered cerebral hemorrhage. He passed on at 64 years.
JUNE
Maj Gen (rtd) Samuel Wasswa Kasirye Ggwanga – On Heroes day, the controversial Gwanga breathed his last at Nakasero hospital on May 18. Two weeks before his death, he had undergone successful surgery to remove a blood clot discovered in one of the vessels in his head.
In April, Ggwanga was first admitted to Mbuya military barracks for initial treatment. He had a long unbroken military career. In 1972, he joined the army and was posted to Arua as a map reader before being captured in 1978 and imprisoned when Tanzania People’s Defence Forces attacked Uganda.
His release in 1980 was negotiated by then President Godfrey Binaisa. In 1985, he joined the NRA, which ushered President Museveni into power. He served in various roles during this time (1986 to 2005). Having served in the army for 47 years, in 2018, Ggwanga retired to farming and running his private businesses.
Pierre Nkurunziza – Former Burundi president suffered cardiac arrest at the age of 55. He died after 15 years in power. Esther Nakajjigo – The 23-year-old’s life ended horribly after a huge metallic gate hit and smashed the car she was travelling in, in Colorado, USA.
A heavy storm caused the accident on the unfortunate day. A renowned activist for women and girls’ rights, Nakajjigo was the face of Saving Innocence Challenge, a reality TV show addressing concerns about teenage pregnancy. At the time of her death, she was working at the Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as a non-employee associate in the international programs.
Christopher Onyanga Aparr – He was Uganda’s Head of Mission and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organisations ambassador. Effective 2010, he was high commissioner to Nigeria and other West African states of Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Ghana, and Cameroon. Before taking on ambassadorial work, he served as a senior government valuer in charge of land and real estate appraisal in the ministry of Lands.
Onyanga died in Geneva. The cause of his death was not revealed.
AUGUST
Festo Karwemera – Was a historian, researcher, and author of Runyankore-Rukiga books. The Kigezi icon died of multiple organ failure at Rugarama hospital. At 95 years, he had authored 17 books and translated the Bible and Constitution of Uganda from English to Runyankore-Rukiga.
He also co-authored Katondoozi, a Runyankore-Rukiga dictionary. Kiira dam accident – Shakira Kaweesa, 30, and her five-year-old daughter Amirror Alwi died after their boat’s engine failed and capsized at around 5pm. The rescue boat with Patrick Odoi, also capsized at Kiira power dam.
SEPTEMBER
Dr David Katuntu – He was a senor epidemiologist and celebrated public health specialist with 17 years of experience. He was also a senior programme officer at PATH, an international health NGO, and a researcher at the Uganda Virus Research Sheikh Nuhu Muzaata Batte Institute between 2001 and March 2010.
He was also part of the multidisciplinary team for controlling disease outbreaks in the country. His family insisted he succumbed to diabetes while the ministry of Health said he died from Covid-19 at Entebbe Grade B hospital.
Francis Xavier S. Kitaka – The co-founder of Cipla Quality Chemicals Ltd, biochemist, veterinarian, entrepreneur and industrialist died at the age of 86. He succumbed to Covid-19. Kitaka remains the first Ugandan to run a privately-owned veterinary pharmaceutical business.
Faith Alupo – Pallisa Woman MP died at Mulago hospital. At 37, Alupo’s cause of death remains unknown with reports linked to high blood pressure, diabetes, and Covid-19. Hajj Nasser Ntege Ssebaggala – Former Kampala mayor died of cardiac arrest at Kampala International hospital after weeks of life support.
Before he got bed-ridden, Ssebaggala, 72, had joined the Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu-led People Power movement and planned to stand for Kampala lord mayorship. KCCA agreed to rename Dastur Street in Kampala after him.
Dr Peter Mugisha – The 38-year-old dermatologist succumbed to Covid-19 at Mbarara regional referral hospital. He had been admitted with breathing complications. He was a lecturer at Mbarara University of Science and Technology and Kampala International University.
Paul Mafabi Gumonye – The former director of Environment at the Ministry of Water and Environment and head of Administrative Authority for Uganda of the Convention on Wetlands died a day after being diagnosed with Covid-19. Mafabi was involved in wetlands management for more than 30 years and spear-headed the development of the Uganda National Wetlands Policy – the first of its kind in Africa.
At the time of his death, he was the national coordinator for Building Resilient Communities, Wetlands ecosystems and associated catchments in Uganda project. Philip Kilipa Ogwang – At 84, the nanga instrument maestro died at Gulu regional referral hospital where he had been admitted for one week.
He was battling diabetes and high blood pressure. Msgr Charles Kimbowa – The Catholic Church lost one of its long-serving priests at Nsambya hospital. Kimbowa, 89, was the senior secretary to the archbishop of Kampala, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga.
He was laid to rest at the priest’s graveyard at Rubaga cathedral. Rehema Watongola case manager with the International Criminal Court (ICC), Oguli slipped and fell in her bathroom and died in a hospital in Netherlands.
OCTOBER
Col Shaban Bantariza – He had battled hypertension before Covid-19 claimed his life at Mulago hospital. The former Uganda Media Center deputy executive director served in the National Resistance Army and later Uganda People’s Defence Forces. He headed the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi from 2009 to 2012, commanded the Oliver Tambo Leadership School, Kaweweta (2008-2009), chairman division court martial, Kakiri I Infantry (2007-2008), deputy chief political commissar (2007), and UPDF spokesman (2001-2005).
Pastor Augustine Yiga – The controversial 44-year-old born-again pastor got himself into prison after he claimed Covid-19 didn’t exist. At Kitalya prison, his health deteriorated and was granted bail. Popularly known as Abizzaayo at his Christian Revival Church in Kawaala, Yiga, also a businessman, spent his last days bedridden at Nsambya hospital where he died.
He had been struggling with liver complications. Prof Joseph Oonyu – The former Makerere University School of Education professor suffered an acute heart attack. He had just been appointed the director of the Uganda National Institute for Teacher Education, a job he did for only two weeks before he died.
George Kajuga – Former senior presidential advisor on cultural affairs died at the age of 96 after a long battle with kidney failure and blood pressure. Ivan Kakooza – Businessman and proprietor of Nexus bar in Najjeera and Nexus events died of Covid-19 at Mulago hospital.
NOVEMBER
Bobi Wine arrest – Protests sparked by the arrest of presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu alias Bobi Wine in Luuka district led to death of at least 54 people in various parts of the country. Of these, 22 were innocent civilians hit by stray bullets while the rest were rioters, according to police reports.
Dr Sheikh Anas Abdul-Noor Kaliisa – He was a political analyst, lecturer, Islamic scholar, and served on the secretariat of the Eminent Council of Sheikhs of Uganda. Kaliisa was found dead in his bedroom by his wife after complaining of chest congestion.
Rehema Watongola – Former Kamuli municipality MP succumbed to Covid-19 at Mulago hospital. The cause of her death was heavily disputed by family with her husband Badru Watongola claiming his wife was poisoned.
DECEMBER
Sheikh Nuhu Muzaata Batte – The 58-year-old Muslim cleric died at IHK in Namuwongo. Some claimed the sheikh was poisoned but the Muslim leadership at Kibuli mosque roundly disputed that narrative. He will be remembered for his outspokenness against the persecution of Muslims.
James Odongo – The archbishop emeritus of Tororo diocese died at Nsambya hospital aged 89. The cause of death remains unknown but he had been struggling with hypertension and diabetes for some time. Odongo was the first African bishop of Tororo diocese and fourth African bishop of Uganda.
James Saaka – The former executive director of the National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U) died at Case Clinic. He served as NITA-U head for 10 years before retiring in August 2020. Freda Nanziri Kase Mubanda – The former Masaka district Woman MP and United Nations employee died at Aga Khan hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.
At 77 years, the NRM party member succumbed to Covid-19. Ali Kirunda Kivejinja – The second deputy prime minister succumbed to Covid-19 at Mulago hospital but had other underlying diseases such as diabetes. At 85 years, he lived his life as a Muslim intellectual, socialist ideologue and African nationalist from the pre-independence era.
One of the longest-serving ministers and founder of the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM), Kirunda served as minister of Relief and Social Rehabilitation; Works and Transport, minister without Portfolio, state minister for Foreign Affairs, deputy National Political Commissar, and minister of East African Community Affairs. He was also MP Bugweri from 1996 to 2001.
Robinah Nakasirye Ssentongo – The Kyotera Woman MP died of Covid-19 at Mulago hospital. She first developed a fever, flu, and cough while on the 2021 campaign trail before her results returned positive. Ssentongo, who was representing Kyotera on the Democratic Party (DP) ticket, died at the age of 58.
nangonzi@observer.ug