As 2020 draws to a close, the rate at which death has ravaged through 2020 has been so alarming due to the pandemic, health issues, and natural disasters.
A host of prominent political leaders, renown sports personalities, movie actors, and celebrities have lost their lives along the way and left voids in society.
Here is a look back at 10 of those to whom we have said farewell from the worlds of football, science, music, business, medicine, politics, activism and the arts.
Football: Papa Bouba Diop, 42
The Senegalese footballer, who died in November after a long illness, was feted for his performance in the 2002 World Cup where he scored his team’s winning goal against France and went on to see Senegal go on to the quarter-finals. No African team has gone further.
Sheikh Nuhu Muzaata Batte
Sheikh Nuhu Muzaata Batte was born on February 5th 1962, to Hamidah Nalunkuuma and Adam Muzaata near Bwaise in Kampala.
Muzaata who was known to be a man of his word went to Bilal Islamic School in Bwaise and earned a degree in Islamic studies at the University of Medina, Saudi Arabia.
In the entertainment circles, Muzaata will most be remembered for his rift with Eddy Kenzo in 2019 where he the stung the latter after his baby mama Rema ditched him for a new catch in Dr. Hamza Ssebunya.
He died on Friday 4th December 2020 aged 58 after spending a few weeks at IHK hospital nursing a strange illness. He was laid to rest on December 5th in Kigoogwa, Wakiso District.
Maj. Gen Kasirye Gwanga
Major General Samuel Wasswa Kasirye Gwanga (born in 1952) died on the morning of 9th June 2020 at Nakasero Hospital after several days in hospital.
Maj. Gen Kasirye Gwanga is remembered for being among the soldiers that led Uganda to her liberation in 1985. He was a no nonsense man and always never minced his words.
In January 2019, Maj. Gen. Ggwanga faced off with singer Catherine Kusasira when the latter and a bunch of her drunk friends engaged his son in an argument in which they hurled insults at his boy.
Before his death, in March this year, during an interview, Maj. Gen. Kasirye Ggwanga questioned Bebe Cool’s importance to the NRM political party and his influence in music.
Al Hajji Nasser Ntege Ssebagala
The death of former Kampala Capital City Council mayor Al Hajji Nasser Ntege Ssebagala left many Ugandans in shock.
Ssebagala spent his last days of life in and out of International Hospital Kampala (IHK) where he had been bedridden for weeks since he fell in a bathroom and got severely hurt.
In the entertainment spheres, Ssebagala is remembered for his romantic relationship with secular singer-cum-gospel artiste and Phlebotomy graduate Desire Luzinda. During their love affair, the pair painted the streets of Kampala red.
Ssebagala who was the Mayor of Kampala between 2006 and 2011, was born on November 15th 1947, and died on September 26th 2020. He was laid to rest in Kisasi.
Col. Shaban Bantariza
The passing on of the Deputy Executive Director of Uganda Media Centre, Col Shaban Bantariza, as well shocked many.
He reportedly succumbed to hypertension at Mulago Hospital where he had been admitted.
Musician Shorkcut
Gagamel singer Allan Massengere a.k.a Shortkut also passed away this year after spending over forty days in the Intensive Care Unit at Nsambya hospital.
On Wednesday (19th August 2020) morning, Bebe Cool shared the sad news of Shortkut’s passing. He went ahead to reveal that his nephew succumbed to Covid-19.
He was then buried in a way that resisted mass gathering in observance of the government guidelines about the disease.
Isaac Zebra Ssenyange
The former Bombers skipper Isaac Zebra Ssenyange alias Mando is the other prominent figure that did not manage to make it to 2021.
Internationally, there are also some deaths that shocked the entertainment world:
Kobe Bryant
The basketball world was thrown into mourning as the LA Lakers icon lost his life in a helicopter crash along with his daughter Gianna and seven other people in January.
The tragic incident caught the world’s attention with everyone paying tribute to the five-time NBA champion.
Diego Maradona
The Argentinian legend is arguably the greatest football player of all time.
Maradona died of a heart attack days after undergoing a successful brain surgery. His legacy lives on. His individual brilliance single-handedly won the 1986 World Cup for Argentina.
Chadwick Boseman
The passing on of Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman after losing a battle to Colon cancer caused a standstill amongst his followers and fans across the globe.
May the souls of the departed rest in peace!
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