Gone too soon

By Ronald Mayanja

Just a month after the country mourned the death of talented dancehall star Mr. X, the music industry has suffered another blow, the untimely death of young upcoming singer Sarah Nampijja, a.k.a Sera.

Sera 21, was confirmed dead on Wednesday, after she returned from the burial of her producer’s father, Ken. Reports say that on her way back, she felt sharp pain in the stomach and was rushed to hospital. Word has it that Sera had not had a meal in a long time, yet she had a history of ulcers. She is said to have vomited blood and bled through the mouth, nose and ears.

Sera was signed to the Muyenga-based Swangz Avenue and was famous for hits like Contagious, featuring Jeff Blaze and I Have A Dream featuring label-mate Young Zee. The singer will be remembered for other popular hits like Sunrise, One Ting Man and her latest, Fire.

Sera will also be remembered for her daring sense of fashion, belief in new and urban music and her sweet humble nature.

People to whom Sera was a colleague, role model, entertainer, sister and, most importantly, friend, had this to say about her:

RudeboyKella Mckenzie, Presenter Radiocity FM : 
“Sera was fun in a unique way. She knew when to be professional and when to have fun. She was an amazing performer, regardless of the fact that she was very shy (something she always admitted to). Till the time of her death, she managed to keep her private life from the public.

The first time I met her, she told me she was thankful that I was the first person to play her music on air.  That was way back [when I was still at] Hot100. I admired her talent and did my best to promote it. 

I personally believed she was going to be something big in Africa. The last time I talked to her was on phone a few weeks ago and we were planning on my first radio interview with her. It breaks my heart that such talent is gone, but God has his ways and we have to accept them.”

“We always talked about how we were going to be famous. I interviewed her for the Floss Magazine cover story and she told me that she was planning on opening up a fashion line since she was studying fashion. My last question was ‘What song would you want to be played at your funeral? And she laughed. She said that that had been the hardest question - She ended up saying ‘Walumbe Zaaya’ and we laughed. We were very tight. After each and every performance during the Miss Teen tour, I would run and take her pictures so that I post them on facebook. Then on Monday I would advise her on how to look better for the next event
Hassan Ssentogo, Writer Buzz magazine

When I interviewed her on Skizzy, she was so down to earth and believed in the future of new skool music and fashion- she was good, and respectful.
Sheila Sempebwa, Skizzy Urban TV