{UAH} SAD: A List Of All Top Ugandan Celebrities That Died in 2020

1. Maj Naomi Karungi – The Uganda People's Defence Air Force (UPDAF) pilot lost her life in a helicopter crash.

She had recently achieved her dream career in aviation but it was cut short when an army helicopter crashed at Ndeese village in Bulo, in the central Butambala district. Karungi died while instructing her colleague Lt Benon Wokalo.

2. Edris Mayanja Njuki, 72, a former secretary to President Idi Amin press.

He died of diabetes and kidney failure at Case Medical Center. Edris was one of the Islamic scholars who served in Amin's government in the 1970s. He also worked then with the ministry of Information and Broadcasting as an information officer in the 1960s.

3. Prof. Johnson Opio Acon – a well-known veterinary doctor and one of the founders of Uganda Society for Protection and Care of Animals (USPCA).

He died at Independent hospital in Ntinda. Before his death, he was a senior veterinary surgeon at the department of Veterinary Pharmacy, Clinical and Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-Security (COVAB).

FEBRUARY

4. Maj Gen Benon Biraaro, 61 – The former presidential candidate while in Kampala hospital for a battle against advanced cancer of the colon eventually died.

Biraaro was once served as the 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.

JUNE

5. Maj Gen (rtd) Samuel Wasswa Kasirye Ggwanga – On Heroes day, the prominent assertive and 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.

He was first admitted in April 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. Gwanga's 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.

AUGUST

6. 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

7. Hajj Nasser Ntege Ssebaggala – the most popular 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.

8. 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.

OCTOBER

9. Col. Shaban Bantariza – the former Uganda Media Center deputy executive had a battle with hypertension before Covid-19 claimed his life at Mulago hospital.

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Bantariza 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).

10. Pastor Augustine Yiga – one of the unforgettable figures in Ugandan news, controversial 44-year-old born-again pastor got himself into prison after he claimed Covid-19 didn't exist.

At Kitalya prison, his health kept deteriorating until he 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.

NOVEMBER

11. 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.

DECEMBER

12. 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.

13. Ali Kirunda Kivejinja, 85 – The second deputy prime minister succumbed to Covid-19 at Mulago hospital but had other underlying diseases such as diabetes. 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.

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"When a man is stung by a bee, he doesn't set off to destroy all beehives"

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