As Uganda navigated the twists and turns of 2025, the year was also marked by the loss of several prominent figures whose deaths left deep scars across politics, security, business, media, academia and culture.<\/p>\n
From youthful politicians to seasoned intellectuals, their passing underscored the fragility of life and the weight of unfinished legacies.<\/p>\n
Muhammad Ssegirinya: A Young Voice Gone Too Soon<\/p>\n
January 2025 had barely begun when death claimed Kawempe North Member of Parliament Muhammad Ssegirinya at just 37 years of age. The outspoken National Unity Platform (NUP) legislator died at Rubaga Hospital, leaving behind a legacy defined by bold rhetoric, controversy and unfulfilled promise.<\/p>\n
Nicknamed \u201cEddoboozi ly\u2019eKyebando\u201d\u2014loosely translated as \u201cthe voice of Kyebando\u201d\u2014Ssegirinya embodied youthful political ambition and the hope of change. However, his parliamentary career was frequently disrupted by legal troubles and prolonged absences from the August House. By the time of his death, he had spent more time outside Parliament than within it, a reality that symbolized a career cut painfully short.<\/p>\n
Brigadier Henry Oluka: Intelligence Chief Laid to Rest<\/p>\n
Later in January, Uganda lost the Director General of the Internal Security Organisation (ISO), Brigadier Henry Oluka, who died on January 29 after battling heart complications. He passed away at Doctors Hospital Sseguku along Entebbe Road, where he had been rushed earlier that day.<\/p>\n
Brig Oluka had taken over leadership of ISO in October 2020 from Col Frank Bagyenda and was credited with steering the intelligence body during a politically sensitive period. His death was a major blow to Uganda\u2019s security establishment.<\/p>\n
Rajiv Ruparelia: A Business Heir Lost in a Tragic Crash<\/p>\n
The death of businessman Rajiv Ruparelia, Managing Director of the Ruparelia Group, shocked the nation. Rajiv died after his vehicle rammed into poorly marked temporary concrete barriers at the Busabala Flyover junction along the Kajjansi\u2013Munyonyo road shortly after midnight.<\/p>\n
His passing triggered nationwide outrage over unsafe road construction practices, with many Ugandans citing the lack of proper signage at the junction, which had reportedly caused multiple accidents before. Rajiv\u2019s death resonated deeply, particularly among young entrepreneurs who saw him as a symbol of generational business leadership.<\/p>\n
Cedric Babu Ndilima: A Multifaceted Life Cut Short<\/p>\n
At the end of May, charismatic media personality, former national tennis star, talent manager and political aspirant Cedric Babu Ndilima died at the age of 46 after succumbing to heart complications at Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi.<\/p>\n
The son of veteran politician Capt. Francis Babu and business leader Olive Zaitun Kigongo, Cedric\u2019s life intersected sports, media, entertainment, entrepreneurship and politics. His death, like Rajiv\u2019s, struck a chord with many Ugandans who admired his versatility and ambition.<\/p>\n
Shaka Ssali: The Voice of Africa Falls Silent<\/p>\n
Celebrated journalist Shaka Ssali, fondly known as the \u201cKabale Kid,\u201d also passed away in 2025 at the age of 71 in the United States. Ssali was the long-time host of Voice of America\u2019s flagship programme Straight Talk Africa.<\/p>\n
For more than two decades, he was a trusted voice engaging African leaders and citizens on democracy, governance and development. His death was mourned across Uganda and the continent, as many reflected on his unwavering commitment to press freedom and critical discourse.<\/p>\n
Margaret Komuhangi: Champion of Women Remembered<\/p>\n
Former Nakasongola District Woman MP Margaret Komuhangi died in India, where she had been receiving treatment. She served two terms in Parliament from 2011 to 2021 and is remembered for her strong advocacy for women\u2019s empowerment and community development in Nakasongola.<\/p>\n
Prof. George Kanyeihamba: A Legal Giant Departs<\/p>\n
The second half of the year began with the loss of prominent legal scholar and retired Supreme Court Justice Prof. George William Kanyeihamba, who died at 86 after a prolonged illness at Kampala Hospital.<\/p>\n
A towering figure in Uganda\u2019s legal history, Kanyeihamba played a key role in shaping the country\u2019s post-independence legal framework. His career spanned academia, the judiciary and politics, and he remained a symbol of legal independence, democratic values and intellectual rigor.<\/p>\n
Sam Omalla: The Controversial Police Enforcer<\/p>\n
Also in 2025, retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Sam Omalla died at 65 after battling colon cancer at Mulago National Referral Hospital. Omalla was widely known for his tough approach during the Walk-to-Work protests led by opposition figure Dr Kizza Besigye, a role that often placed him at the center of public criticism.<\/p>\n
Mary Karooro Okurut: A Literary and Political Icon<\/p>\n
In August, Uganda lost former minister, senior presidential advisor and celebrated author Mary Karooro Okurut, who died in Nairobi. Karooro was revered for her contributions to politics, gender advocacy, education and Ugandan literature, leaving behind a legacy that bridged governance and culture.<\/p>\n
2025 will be remembered not only for its political and social milestones, but also for the silence left by voices that once shaped Uganda\u2019s national conversation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As Uganda navigated the twists and turns of 2025, the year was also marked by the loss of several prominent figures whose deaths left deep scars across politics, security, business, media, academia and culture. From youthful politicians to seasoned intellectuals, their passing underscored the fragility of life and the weight of unfinished legacies. Muhammad Ssegirinya: […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":7804,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[409],"tags":[615],"class_list":{"0":"post-7803","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national","8":"tag-uganda"},"yoast_head":"\n