Cruel hand of death!!

By James Bakama SHOCK is probably too light a word to describe reactions from the sudden death of four sports journalists in an accident yesterday. New Vision’s Leo Kabunga, Kenneth Andrew Matovu, Simon Peter Ekarot and Francis Batte Jr of The Monitor left Uganda shell-shocked after their car rammed into a speeding pick-up at Bulyantete near Lugazi on Jinja road. The four, also Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA) executives, died after talks in Njeru, Mukono with Nile Breweries on sponsorship of the forthcoming sports journalist of the year award. A service will be held today for Matovu at All Saints Cathedral at 11am, two hours before a joint requiem mass for Kabunga, Ekarot and Batte at Our Lady of Africa church in Mbuya. Work at The New Vision came to a standstill when the tragic news broke at 1 o’clock. “We are shocked. It’s our biggest tragedy ever,” said Deputy Editor-in-Chief David Sseppuuya. Condolence messages flooded The New Vision head office where shocked employees gathered in small groups. “Oh God Oh God! Uganda and football in particular have lost what will never be regained” read a condolence message from The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA). Movement Director of Information Ofwono Opondo was also grieved “I wish to convey my heartfelt condolences to the management of and staff of The New Vision, Monitor and the entire media fraternity for this great loss.” National Council of Sports (NCS) General Secretary Abbey Lutaya said: “A great tragedy has occurred in Uganda sports. To lose one of them was tragedy enough, but all four simultaneously is beyond comprehension.” “The deaths constitute a terrible blow to the entire journalists’ fraternity in the country. The four have been very resourceful and have played a pivotal role in the advancement of journalism in the country,” read a Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) release. USPA President Geoffrey Kulubya, on a course in Cardiff, Wales, was equally stunned. “This is unbelievable. I have lost an entire executive.” Amongst the numerous messages were those from Parliament , Civil Aviation Authority, Radio Uganda, Radio One and British American Tobacco Uganda Ltd. Ends