Son of fallen ex-minister Wapakhabulo dies

PIC: Yona Namawa Wapakhabulo breathed his last on Monday. (Courtesy photo)

DEATH

KAMPALA - Tributes are flowing for Yona Namawa Wapakhabulo, the son of former Ugandan foreign affairs minister James Wapakhabulo.

Yona, a public relations practitioner, passed away Monday as a result of cardiac complications, local media cite "friends close to the family" as having said.

On Tuesday, WMC Africa, one of the top PR firms in the country, released a statement on the passing of their own.

"We regret to confirm the unfortunate passing on of Yona Namawa Wapakhabulo, the managing partner at WMC Africa."

Yona, whose father died 14 years ago, has been described by a colleague as one who gave his workmates "the liberty to fly and be the team that we are today".

Local media report that Yona had as recently as a fortnight ago left his workplace due to "a problem of backache".

"This is a difficult moment for all of us, but we pray for strength and guidance as we celebrate the driven and impactful life that was Yona," WMC Africa said in their statement.

A vigil will be held on Thursday at Machame Health Club, Naguru Vale Road in Kampala starting 6:00pm.

A funeral service will be held the following day (Friday, August 10) at All Saints Cathedral at 9:00am in Kampala.

Yona will be laid to rest on Saturday at Mafudu in Sironko district in eastern Uganda.

"Life is bizzare! I had lunch him last week, and we talked! What happened to this quiet soul??," posted a user on Facebook.

Another user wrote: "I am deeply saddened by Yona's passing! He served our business years ago as a PR strategist and he was worth every dollar. Yona was a great soul and may God grant him his rich reward. RIP comrade."