Kabalisa appeals for continued support as son, football star Nabutono, fights for life

Joyce Kabalisa, the mother of Martin Nsubuga, popularly known in the football community as Nabutono, has expressed her deep gratitude to everyone who has supported her son during his critical battle with tetanus.

Nabutono, a talented left-back, is currently on life support at Roswell Hospital, and Kabalisa has been struggling to meet the overwhelming medical costs.

Kabalisa has issued an urgent appeal for further assistance, revealing that the daily cost of keeping her son on life-support machines is approximately sh3 million.

“I want to thank everyone who has stood by us during this difficult time. Only parents can truly understand the pain of seeing their child on these machines. He cannot talk, eat, or even look at me. It has been 20 days now, and it is heartbreaking. I am trying to stay strong, but it is incredibly hard. Many people have supported us, and today, the Thx22 Foundation has also stepped in to help. Thank you so much, God’s people. I pray that God blesses you for your kindness,” Kabalisa said emotionally.

She shared her message of appreciation on Tuesday at Roswell Hospital, located along Yusuf Lule Road in Kampala, where the Thx22 Foundation, the charity arm of 22BET, presented a cheque of sh21 million to assist with Nabutono’s medical expenses.

Kabalisa was accompanied by her daughter-in-law, Winnie Nakanwagi, Nabutono’s wife, who also expressed her gratitude to all who have contributed to saving her husband’s life.

“I join my mother-in-law in thanking everyone for their generous support. We are especially grateful to the media for spreading the word, and I want to assure you that my husband is making progress. As those who see him daily, we can see improvements, and with God’s grace, he will recover,” Nakanwagi said.

She also urged the public to ignore false reports about Nabutono’s condition.

“Two weeks ago, some people falsely declared him dead, which was extremely painful for us. Please, only trust updates from the family,” she emphasized.

Collins Bongomin, representing the Thx22 Foundation, explained that they were moved to support Nabutono after learning about his condition through the media.

“As a foundation that works within the sports industry, we felt compelled to step in and help cover part of his medical bills. We understand he has been in the ICU for 20 days, and the financial burden on his family is immense. We encourage other stakeholders to come forward and assist as well,” Bongomin stated.

Nabutono, 26, last played for Ssaza Buddu in the 2024 Buganda Masaza Football Competition, where he played a pivotal role in helping the Masaka City-based team clinch the title by defeating Kyaggwe 1-0 in the final at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole. He has also previously played for Ssaza Buweekula and CATIDA FC in the FUFA Kampala Region League.

The football fraternity and well-wishers continue to rally behind Nabutono and his family, hoping for his full recovery and return to the sport he loves.