Celebrated Ugandan TV host Cedric Babu dies in Nairobi

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 DEATH 

Cedric Babu Ndilima, a  renowned Ugandan media personality and sports administrator, has died in hospital in Kenya after a prolonged battle with severe heart failure. He was 46.

His death on Saturday (May 31) was confirmed by close friends in the Kenyan capital Nairobi and the management of Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) where Ndilima worked as a TV host.  

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Cedric Babu Ndilima, a former colleague and valued member of the UBC family. Through The Cedric Live Show, he brought insight and vibrance to our screens. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones,” reads the statement from UBC.

Ndilima had been under intensive care at Aga Khan University Hospital, where he was admitted a few weeks ago.

Ndilima gave elective politics a shot - but was unsuccessful

Apart from media practice, Ndilima in 2021 ventured into politics in the footsteps of his father, veteran politician Captain Francis Babu, when he unsuccessfully contested for the Kampala Central parliamentary seat under the NRM party.

Recently, his family and friends had launched an appeal for £300,000 (about sh1.5 billion) to cover the cost of a recommended emergency heart transplant in London.

Ndilima's heart condition came to light in May this year when he reportedly collapsed while attending a tennis tournament in Rwanda's capital Kigali, where he had accompanied his son, Cillian Asante Ndilima.

He was airlifted to the Aga Khan University Hospital, where he was diagnozed with a serious heart condition, which rapidly deteriorated in the subsequent weeks. Doctors recommended a heart transplant as his only chance of survival.

As part of his work, Ndilima produced the acclaimed local drama Beneath the Lies. He was also a former Davis Cup player and president of the Uganda Tennis Association.