New Vision’s Sub-Editor Dead

By Patrick LugandaTHE cruel hand of death has struck The New Vision, again. Senior sub-editor, Mrs. Irene Nambi Sseppuuya, is dead. She died at 1:00am at Nsambya Hospital yesterday.Irene was wife to David Sseppuuya, the paper’s deputy Editor-in-Chief. The news chilled friends and workmates alike. By daybreak, sobbing friends and relatives started flooding the Sseppuuya’s home in Mpereerwe off, Gayaza Road.Last year, three New Vision journalists perished in a grisly car accident near Lugazi town. A cloud of grief engulfed the paper’s head office in Industrial Area. Shocked colleagues stood in little groups discussing in whispers the gruesome news in disbelief.“Terrible. She passed away so quickly,” said a workmate, weeping.Several mourners broke down and wept as they comforted the bereaved husband. Kirabo Giibwa, their two-year-old daughter, stared in apparent bewilderment.A family friend, Steven Shalita, who held Irene’s hand as she died, said she wished that friends took care of Kirabo, her only child. “I told her that you are going to make it but she said, ‘I am not going to make it. I am choking. I cannot breath’.“Dr. Kiiza Mugerwa tried to save her as I held her hand and steadied her head. At about 1:00am she died. I went and told David who was waiting outside,” said Shalita.Irene collapsed at 9:00am on Wednesday near the special taxi yard at Wandegeya. Her husband was called immediately who drove her to Nsambya.“There was no prior complaint of illness. She just collapsed. In the hospital she did complain of chest pain but that was all. The doctors are yet to release the postmortem report,” said Mike Chibita, another close family friend.Chibita said Irene was a very stable person who was dedicated to her family and work.“This is a big blow to the family. Her commitment to others stood out,” he said.Catherine Mwesigwa, a bosom friend and Vision’s deputy features editor, said Irene was selfless. “Most people are feeling a personal loss. I am at a loss to describe her. She was prim and proper, almost blameless,” said Mwesigwa.The two have been friends since 1984 when they joined Gayaza High School. Thereafter they joined Makerere and together graduated with degrees in Mass Communication.Bakulumpagi Lwanga, the Chief Sub-editor and Irene’s immediate supervisor, said, “Irene was an exceptionally gifted woman. She was very talented in the way she handled her work. “She has been very creative and had such a fine understanding of the English language. “She has been my sounding board. If I gave her work to do, she would bring out the best.” Before joining the print media, Irene’s finest asset was her voice. At Gayaza she was the chapel choir leader. Her soprano voice continued to ring out in Makerere’s St. Francis Chapel choir.She married Sseppuuya on August 29, 1998. Today she lies for the last time in the chapel where she diligently served the Lord. The funeral service starts at 10:00am. The burial will take place at Buso, Wakiso. “Turn off at Matugga on Bombo Road. Drive 11km to Jagala Full Gospel Church. The burial grounds are 2km from the turning at the church,” Chibita said.The 31-year-old Irene was a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Justine Kiyimba of Igombe, Kamuli.Ends