Tycoon's son dies in the US

By ahmed Mukiibi
A son of another Kampala prominent businessman has died mysteriously. Umar Sengendo Sebaggala, 26, the oldest son of Haji Meddie Sebaggala, the proprietor of Sebaggala & Sons Electro Centre, collapsed on Sunday and died shortly after arrival at Lowell General Hospital in Boston Metropolitan areas, Massachusetts. He was pursuing an MBA at Boston University. Umar reportedly collapsed as he was playing tennis with his younger brother Isaac, with whom they lived in an apartment in Lowell, a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

 “He had just finished his Iftar (breaking fast) and then decided with his colleagues to relax a bit by playing tennis, his favourite hobby,” his father Meddie Sebaggala told the New Vision at his home in Upper Bunga, an upscale Kampala suburb. “I am told he just collapsed, just as they started playing tennis. I don’t have all the details because my son died last night. We are still waiting for a postmortem report,” Haji Sebaggala said while fighting to hold back tears. “I have really lost a friend and a confidant,” he said. He said he had talked to his son for over 30 minutes at around 6:00pm. “We said goodbye to one another as it was approaching 7:00 for I had to break my fast and to say my ‘Magarib’ prayers”, Sebaggala told the New Vision.

Mourners, including Prince Kassim Nakibinge Kakungulu, yesterday converged at Sebaggala’s home to console him. By yesterday, Umar’s body was still at the Lowell General Hospital as the family was working on plans to transfer the body to a funeral home where it will be kept until they get travel documents. Umar went to Kabojja International School, Kibuli SS, Rainbow Academy before enrolling at Limkokwing University, Malaysia, where he graduated in 2011 with a degree in Business & IT. Umar’s friends posted messages of condolences on his Facebook page.

One such message read; “Umar my dearest... I have sooo much to say... not amused that I never told u how special you are... thank you for always helping, listening, being there, advising me, never did you break my trust... Just yesterday you asked me a few questions and one of your answers was “tudde eri mungu”... “May Allah through His mercy grant you Jannah firdous.”