Body of Juliana's son to be flown home Tuesday

By Carol Kasujja

KAMPALA - The remains of the son of Ugandan singer Juliana Kanyomozi will be flown back home from Nairobi on Tuesday, according to a programme from the family.

Tributes have continued to flow for Keron Raphael Kabugo who died at Aga Khan Hospital in the Kenyan capital on Sunday after suffering an asthma attack.

After the attack a fortnight ago, family sources said, the 11-year-old boy then developed severe pneumonia, with his lungs badly infected.

His grieving mother has described him as a “fighter” and says she will try to be as “strong as I possibly can”.

Mourners are keeping vigil at Juliana’s home in Lungujja, Kosovo, hours before the arrival of the body.

Juliana is in Nairobi with Amon Lukwago (Keron's father), and they will fly back to Uganda with the body of their son on Tuesday at 7.00pm local time.

‘Loved dogs and art’

Family and friends started collecting at the musician’s home as early as 9.00am local time Monday, and the mood was and is still understandably somber.

Juliana’s brother, Eddie Kim, who is at the home with other mourners, fought back tears as he spoke of how his deceased nephew loved dogs and fellows kids.

“He was an intelligent and hardworking boy. He loved video games, football, art [drawing] and writing,” he told New Vision.

“He loved dogs and fellow kids.

“His dream was to become an artist.”

Juliana said her celebrity status did not stop her from being a good mother

One of Juliana’s long-time friends, with whom she worked at Capital FM in Kampala, said she understands “the pain she is going through as a mother”.

‘We are here to support her. Juliana loves people but I know she loved her son so dearly,” she said.

There will be a funeral service at All Saints Cathedral in Kampala at 10.00am local time on Wednesday.

Burial will take place on Friday in Matugga at 4.00pm (EAT).

'Intelligent, good boy'

Little Keron's grandmother says she will miss "my handsome intelligent boy" with whom they shared a strong bond together.

The pain in her voice was clear as she told New Vision of the times she and Keron would chat and eat together.

"By just looking at him, I could tell he would grow into a handsome man. He was a good boy. A listener. Respectful," she said.

She remembered that day, two weeks ago, that would be the start of the last days of the vibrant Keron.

"Two weeks ago, he came back home from school and complained to me that he felt pain in his lungs. I asked him how he could tell that it was the lungs, but then he insisted. So we eventually took him Nakasero Hospital at 3.00pm. He was checked and  put on oxygen. We left the hospital at 9.00pm that same day after assurances from the medics that the boy would be okay."

But later that evening, Keron's condition worsened and he was admitted at the same hospital, where, after thorough diagnosis, was found to have pneumonia.

Meanwhile, Keron's grandfather (Amon's father), says he will miss him so much. He says he had wanted Keron to be his heir. The two never met often, but the old man says he loved and cherished the few times Keron visited him on occassions like parties.