Sebaggala's children finally arrive for their father's send off

DEATH|BURIAL|VIGIL|SEBAGGALA

Preparations for the burial of the late former Kampala city Mayor Alhajji Nasser Ntegge Sebaggala are in high gear following the arrival of six of his children.

The children jetted into the country aboard Ethiopian Airlines from the United States of America on Thursday evening.

Sebaggala collapsed in a bathroom at his home in Munyonyo on September 7th and was rushed to International Hospital Kampala (IHK) with abdominal complications and died on Saturday.

Speaking to New Vision, Yusuf Sebaggala Bakuuba 45, the deceased's elder son said securing travel documents hasn't been easy due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has hit the globe.

"If it wasn't for the intervention of Uganda's Ambassador to the United States of America, most of us would not have made it here to bid farewell to our fallen father," Bakuuba said.

Bakuuba revealed that he used to speak to his father every day before he passed on. "The day he died we didn't speak because of time differences," Bakuuba said.

"We spoke every other day and he was really fine. My dad didn't die a painful death. He died a simple death as he wasn't sick nor was he bed ridden," Bakuuba explained.

He simply had abdominal pain because he had severe ulcers and as a family, we believe that could have been the cause of his death.

"Ulcers could have perforated letting food spill through the entire body instead of the intestines," Bakuuba said.

He however noted that no matter what could have happened, they think it was also his time to go and based on his will we had to come back and bid him farewell.

Bakuuba described his father as a multi-dimensional gentleman who only considered death as the only challenge on planet earth.

"In life, dad knew death as the only challenge and it is one thing he didn't have control over. 

There was nothing more one could tell him that he couldn't do," Bakuuba said.

He said Sebaggala was a rock. "Naturally a man stands on earth, some people like him while others will not. So for those who have been interested in Sebaggala its okay? He lived his life and you also have yours but as of now only God can judge him," said a teary Ssebaggala.

Bakuuba thanked Ugandans for the support, love and care they have shown Alhajji Sebaggala over the years. He asked those who misunderstood his father at any one time to forgive him.

Justice Remmy Kasule of the Court of Appeal has mourned the late Kampala City Mayor, Sebaggala, describing him as a unique person.

"Sebaggala was a unique person who had a strong heart and passion for the vulnerable people, he associated with both the elite and the vulnerable without discrimination," Kasule said.

NRM's Rose Namayanja hailed Sebaggala for being confident with high esteem and being able to build different circles around him and beyond.

"I appeal to the youth to emulate the deceased by having confidence in themselves to move beyond their borders," Namayanja said.

On Saturday, Sebaggala's body will be taken to Mariam mosque for prayers and to his ancestral home in Kisaasi where he will be laid to rest on Sunday at 2pm after a vigil.