Grief and tears as NBS TV’s Sheilah Nakabuye is laid to rest in Butambala

BUTAMBALA | UGANDA: Fallen NBS TV Journalist and Bureau Chief for South Western Uganda Sheilah Nakabuye has today evening been laid to rest at Buyenga Village in Butambala District amidst tears in a grief and somber mood.

Sheila Nakabuye, 32, was pronounced dead by doctors at Mbarara Regional Referral hospital at around 8am.

According to friends and family members, the NBS TV’s south western Uganda bureau chief gave birth to a baby girl on Saturday through a C-section at Cedus Clinic in Rwebikoona Mbarara where she had been admitted.

However, she got seizures and went into a coma forcing her family members to transfer her to Mbarara regional referral hospital at around 11am on Sunday.

One of Nakabuye’s co-worker, Mr Ambrose Muhumuza said after the operation at the clinic, Nakabuye on Sunday morning took some snacks and yogurt but later started vomiting before she went into coma and was transferred to the regional referral hospital.

At the referral hospital, Nakabuye was admitted in ICU.

Born in Butambala District, Nakabuye had a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass communication from Uganda Pentecostal University, Fort portal.

Nakabuye’s experience with radio broadcast started in senior six vacation, when she worked hard to raise her university tuition.

Thereafter, she had a short stint in television reporting at Uganda Broadcasting Corporation in 2016 having worked as a news anchor and reporter at Crooze radio in Mbarara City. In the same year (2016), she joined NBS TV as she also anchored news at a local BFM radio station. However, she later returned to Mbarara to work as a full time reporter before she was appointed south western Uganda bureau chief for NBS TV.

By the time of her death, Nakabuye’s close associates say she had transformed into a dependable, resilient, and passionate journalist, whose work and professionalism leaves a void in the entire western and south western Uganda region.

With interest in covering special interest groups, especially women and girls, Nakabuye always worked towards improving local communities.

During the recently concluded elections, the then expectant mother worked hard through dark nights in the hills of western and southwestern Uganda as she combed for stories for her employer.

Next Media Services, the parent group of NBS TV described Sheilah as a hard worker whose positivity shall greatly be missed.

Nakabuye’s last post on twitter was on Saturday when she condemned the Israeli airstrikes that destroyed a high-rise building in Gaza City that housed offices of Al-Jazeera, Associated Press, and other offices and residential apartments and left dozens dead and hundreds injured.

“Killing with impunity shouldn’t be allowed by the international community,” Nakabuye wrote on twitter on Saturday.