Kampala City, Uganda: The media fraternity and Buganda Kingdom’s BBS Terefayina are mourning the sudden death of journalist and presenter Joseph Sseruwooza, who passed away in the early hours of Friday after suffering health complications.
Sseruwooza, widely known for his coverage of Parliament and his role on BBS Terefayina’s current affairs programme Zuukuka N’Ensonga, died at Mulago National Referral Hospital after being transferred from other health facilities for specialized treatment.
According to colleagues and family friends, Sseruwooza first complained of severe chest pain on Thursday morning. Believing he was suffering from ulcers, he reportedly asked fellow journalist Rafat Musoke to stand in for him on his morning programme duties.
Musoke said he later received a call from Sseruwooza’s wife informing him that the journalist’s condition had worsened.
After rushing to his home, Musoke drove the couple to Gombe Medical Services, where doctors reportedly treated Sseruwooza as an emergency case after discovering he was struggling to breathe and that his oxygen levels had dropped below normal levels.
He was placed on a ventilator as medical personnel initially treated him for suspected ulcers and administered antibiotics while conducting further examinations.
However, despite treatment, Sseruwooza continued to experience severe chest pain.
According to Musoke, doctors later conducted a chest scan that revealed a blood clot blocking one of Sseruwooza’s main coronary arteries.
Medical personnel immediately arranged for his transfer to the Uganda Heart Institute for emergency intervention.
“It was then that doctors decided to carry out a chest scan. The results came back in less than a minute and showed that Sseruwooza’s main coronary artery had been blocked by a clot,” Musoke revealed.
Doctors reportedly informed the family and colleagues that they had a narrow window to address the blockage before transferring him to the specialized cardiac facility.
Musoke said Sseruwooza appeared stable during the transfer and was able to communicate normally.
At the Uganda Heart Institute, doctors began preparations for a procedure to unblock the artery. However, despite efforts to stabilize him, Sseruwooza passed away at around 4:00am on Friday.
Earlier, BBS Terefayina announced his death, describing him as a dedicated journalist who had built a strong reputation as one of the station’s leading Parliament reporters.
The station said further details regarding burial arrangements and official tributes would be communicated in due course.
Sseruwooza’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief from journalists, politicians, media practitioners and viewers who remember him for his professionalism, passion for journalism and commitment to public affairs reporting.
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