Kampala, Uganda: Uganda’s media fraternity has been plunged into mourning after a tragic road crash at Namulanda along the Entebbe Expressway claimed the lives of Sanyuka TV producer Badru Kasirye and digital content creator Isaac Ndagigye, while NBS TV entertainment journalist Brian Makona survived with injuries.
The fatal accident occurred in the early hours of Friday near Starbex, as the three were reportedly returning from the highly publicised celebrity boxing showdown between TikToker Chicken Chicken and comedian Shawa at Supremacy Lounge in Nakulabye.
Badru Kasirye, a celebrated television producer, lifestyle content creator, trade marketing officer and media personality with Sanyuka TV, died at the scene after sustaining severe injuries.
Widely admired for his behind-the-scenes entertainment productions, celebrity interviews and digital storytelling, Kasirye had built a strong following among viewers and fellow media practitioners for his creativity and dedication to Uganda’s entertainment industry.
The crash also claimed the life of Isaac Ndagigye, a promising young digital content creator whose work had earned him recognition as one of the country’s emerging online media personalities.
Friends and fellow content creators described Ndagigye as passionate, innovative, and committed to using digital platforms to tell authentic Ugandan stories.
Meanwhile, Brian Makona, an entertainment journalist with NBS TV, was rushed to Kisubi Hospital, where he was initially admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in critical condition.
Medical sources later confirmed that Makona had been transferred out of the ICU after his condition stabilised. Doctors said he sustained a broken nose, while medical examinations reportedly found no head injuries, raising optimism about his recovery.
The tragedy sparked an outpouring of grief across Uganda’s media and entertainment industries, with journalists, broadcasters, artistes, content creators and members of the public paying tribute to the deceased.
Many described Kasirye and Ndagigye as hardworking young professionals whose lives and careers were cut short at a time when they were making significant contributions to Uganda’s growing creative industry.
Another painful blow to Uganda’s media fraternity
The latest tragedy comes barely six months after NBS Television journalist Julius Kitone was killed in a horrific road crash along the Mbarara–Lyantonde highway in Kiruhura District in February this year. Kitone, a respected climate and environment reporter, was among eight people who died when the taxi he was travelling in collided head-on with a trailer.
The media fraternity is also reminded of the death of NTV Uganda journalist Edward Muhumuza, who lost his life in March 2023 after his vehicle crashed while exiting the Entebbe Expressway near the Mpala Toll Station. Muhumuza, an award-winning business reporter, died on the spot after reportedly losing control of his vehicle while driving to Nkumba University, where he was pursuing further studies.
The successive losses have renewed concerns about road safety, particularly among journalists whose work often requires long-distance travel and late-night assignments.
By Friday morning, police had not yet released an official statement detailing the circumstances surrounding the Namulanda crash, and investigations into its cause were ongoing.
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