Hotelier collapses and dies while loading shopping into car

A man who collapsed and died on February 21, 2026, while placing shopping items in the boot of his car has been identified as David Kitagenda Magezi, a renowned hotelier.

Kitagenda was identified by Dr Stella Nyanzi, a former Makerere University lecturer, after a viral video of the incident was shared on social media on Saturday morning, shortly after it occurred.

"It is with deep shock that I announce the sudden death of my gentle cousin David Kitagenda Magezi, whose video is circulating on social media as people try to identify him. Today, David Magezi Kitagenda collapsed, dropped down and died while in the process of putting his shopping from a busy market into the boot of his car. He is not a stranger. He is my cousin," Nyanzi said.

She revealed that David was the eldest son of the late Frederick Magezi and Marjorie Magezi, whose home is on Magezi Close in Muyenga Tankhill, Kampala.

"My uncle Magezi was the longterm executive director of the National Insurance Corporation until his retirement. David is the brother to Rebecca Magezi Bukenya, Marjorie Magezi, Fiona Magezi and Frederick Magezi," She added.

She said, "Most of his life, David was a manager of different hotels in Uganda. He was also a devout Christian, active in whichever church communities he worshipped at. Always smiling, always attentive while listening to others speak, David was a very gentle soul whose preoccupation was serving the needs of others."

It has also emerged that Kitagenda was a mobiliser at St Paul’s Church Kulambiro, and had heart-related complications.

The video of the deceased has sparked mixed reactions regarding how members of the public responded, with some suggesting that had he been given emergency first aid, he might have survived.

William Mulumba took to social media and said, "Had this guy been given Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) in time, maybe he would still be alive. Basic CPR should be included in secondary and primary school curriculums. Please Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Ministry of Health, and the Minister of Education and Sports, cardiac arrest can happen to anyone."