Thousands of mourners Merge Mwaalo Village in Kimanya-Kyabakuza For The Fallen Radio and Tv Personality Mulindwa Muwonge
Thousands of mourners Merge Mwaalo Village in Kimanya-Kyabakuza division in Masaka Municipality, as veteran broadcaster Erias Mulindwa Muwonge was laid to rest. The 54-year-old radio presenter died on Wednesday at Nsambya Hospital where he had been hospitalised for a week with low blood pressure.
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Hundreds of mourners today thronged
Mwaalo Village in Kimanya-Kyabakuza division in Masaka Municipality, as
veteran broadcaster Erias Mulindwa Muwonge was laid to rest.
The 54-year-old radio presenter died on Wednesday at Nsambya Hospital where he had been hospitalised for a week with low blood pressure. At the time of his death, Muwonge was the Programmes Manager at Star FM, a subsidiary of Uganda Broadcasting Corporation.
Among the mourners were comedians, musicians, film stars, radio personalities, sports personalities, politicians and business people.
Minister without Portfolio Hajj Abdul Nadduli, State Minister for Micro Finance Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo, and MPs Peter Ssematimba for Busiro South, Kato Lubwama for Lubaga South and Joseph Ssewungu for Kalungu West were among the mourners.
Veteran artiste Andrew Benon Kibuuka, who once worked with Mulindwa Muwonge, described him as a very determined person. He noted that back in the 1980s, Muwonge who was then a barber in Masaka town mobilised at least 30 dramatists and travelled to Kampala to try their luck.
Kibuuka, a longtime member of Bakayimbira Dramactors, explained that when Muwonge and his team got to Kampala under their umbrella Nabubaale Threatre Group, they camped at Biwologoma in Kampala for some time as they sought permission to stage performances at Riverside Theatre.
He says Muwonge and his group had to stay there for days before a day was scheduled for them to stage their drama at Riverside.
Kibuuka noted that it took determination to survive Kampala then.
Aloysius Matovu Joy, also a member of Bakayimbira Dramactors, noted that Muwonge touched the lives and inspired many actors including his daughter, Jamilah Muwonge, who acts in the Tendo Sisters, a TV series which airs on Bukedde TV.
Matovu said that Muwonge is irreplaceable.
However, the burial which was conducted in Islamic Faith did not go without incidents. One person calling himself Isaac Mutyaba grabbed the microphone from veteran radio presenter Abbey Mukiibi and started taking a swipe at President Yoweri Museveni for allegedly neglecting Muwonge.
Mutyaba claimed that Museveni had used Muwonge to fight his political battles and abandoned him. He warned all those that still work for President Yoweri Museveni to be careful saying he would use them and send them.
Mutyaba wondered how Museveni and his Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi would miss Muwonge's burial and send Haruna Kasolo, calling him a meaningless State Minister for Micro Finance.
The statements by Mutyaba caused laughter among the mourners.
But both minister, Kasolo and Nadduli, clarified that President Museveni had met all the medication and funeral expenses. Kasolo also announced that President Museveni had sent 10 million Shillings to help in burial arrangements. He described Mutyaba as being myopic saying the essence of having a cabinet is to help the president run Government.
Muwonge is survived by several children and widows.
He started his broadcasting career with Buganda Kingdom owned CBS radio before moving to Super FM with his longtime friend Peter Ssematimba. He however moved to Star FM when he and Ssematimba fell out.
While still at CBS, Muwonge is remembered for his sharp attacks on the government of President Museveni during his Saturday morning programme, Parliament Yammwe, especially during and after the passing of the 1998 Land Act.
The 54-year-old radio presenter died on Wednesday at Nsambya Hospital where he had been hospitalised for a week with low blood pressure. At the time of his death, Muwonge was the Programmes Manager at Star FM, a subsidiary of Uganda Broadcasting Corporation.
Among the mourners were comedians, musicians, film stars, radio personalities, sports personalities, politicians and business people.
Minister without Portfolio Hajj Abdul Nadduli, State Minister for Micro Finance Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo, and MPs Peter Ssematimba for Busiro South, Kato Lubwama for Lubaga South and Joseph Ssewungu for Kalungu West were among the mourners.
Veteran artiste Andrew Benon Kibuuka, who once worked with Mulindwa Muwonge, described him as a very determined person. He noted that back in the 1980s, Muwonge who was then a barber in Masaka town mobilised at least 30 dramatists and travelled to Kampala to try their luck.
Kibuuka, a longtime member of Bakayimbira Dramactors, explained that when Muwonge and his team got to Kampala under their umbrella Nabubaale Threatre Group, they camped at Biwologoma in Kampala for some time as they sought permission to stage performances at Riverside Theatre.
He says Muwonge and his group had to stay there for days before a day was scheduled for them to stage their drama at Riverside.
Kibuuka noted that it took determination to survive Kampala then.
Aloysius Matovu Joy, also a member of Bakayimbira Dramactors, noted that Muwonge touched the lives and inspired many actors including his daughter, Jamilah Muwonge, who acts in the Tendo Sisters, a TV series which airs on Bukedde TV.
Matovu said that Muwonge is irreplaceable.
However, the burial which was conducted in Islamic Faith did not go without incidents. One person calling himself Isaac Mutyaba grabbed the microphone from veteran radio presenter Abbey Mukiibi and started taking a swipe at President Yoweri Museveni for allegedly neglecting Muwonge.
Mutyaba claimed that Museveni had used Muwonge to fight his political battles and abandoned him. He warned all those that still work for President Yoweri Museveni to be careful saying he would use them and send them.
Mutyaba wondered how Museveni and his Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi would miss Muwonge's burial and send Haruna Kasolo, calling him a meaningless State Minister for Micro Finance.
The statements by Mutyaba caused laughter among the mourners.
But both minister, Kasolo and Nadduli, clarified that President Museveni had met all the medication and funeral expenses. Kasolo also announced that President Museveni had sent 10 million Shillings to help in burial arrangements. He described Mutyaba as being myopic saying the essence of having a cabinet is to help the president run Government.
Muwonge is survived by several children and widows.
He started his broadcasting career with Buganda Kingdom owned CBS radio before moving to Super FM with his longtime friend Peter Ssematimba. He however moved to Star FM when he and Ssematimba fell out.
While still at CBS, Muwonge is remembered for his sharp attacks on the government of President Museveni during his Saturday morning programme, Parliament Yammwe, especially during and after the passing of the 1998 Land Act.
