We light a candle for…

AK47 

The date was March 16 and time was 10pm. Social media went ablaze with news that dancehall artiste AK47 had died. People did not believe the news as there was no reliable source to confirm the allegations. When we called Singer Chameleone, his phone was off and so was Pallaso’s, AK47’s brothers. Weasel, another brother, refused to pick up and this simply indicated that the news might actually be true. Some minutes later, Weasel confirmed the news to us before pictures of the deceased started popping up on Facebook.
Emmanuel Mayanja Hummertone alias AK47, reportedly died at Nsambya hospital after falling in the restrooms of Dejavu Bar in Kansanga, a Kampala suburb.
The body was taken to National Theatre for public viewing before it was transported to Nalungi Kalangalo village in Mityana District where he was laid to rest on March 19.
The singer is survived by three children. We shall remember him as a young, gifted and modest artiste. His songs Tukikolemu, Ndimulokole, Action Parked, Champion AK, Ebaluwa and Gal Ah Bubble, among others will live on.
LUMIX

Patrick Lumumba aka Lumix Da Don was a hip hop artiste and president of Valley Curve group. Lumix passed on July 13 at Naguru Hospital two weeks after he was admitted. A family member who posted on his Facebook wall said the artiste died of liver failure. “RIP to the Don, the Legend, Lumix. I’m honoured to have been among the last to work with you. And though you are no longer here physically, you will forever live on through your immortal music.
UG hip hop will always miss you,” fellow rapper Enygma confirmed the death of Lumix on his Facebook wall. Mostly known for his 2009 track True Manhood, a collabo with GNL, Aziz Azion and T-Bro, Lumix was popular for rapping in his native Acholi, in a style dubbed Luoflow and was voted best hip hop artiste in northern Uganda for more than three years.

HARRIET KISAKYE

April 25, 2015 will always be remembered as the day artiste Harriet Kisakye breathed her last. The singer famed for songs like Kinigeria, Gyenvudde, Sentala, Ebigezo, Kandaha and Service, among others died at IHK in Namuwongo after it was reported that her liver, kidney and lungs had failed to function.
Prior to her death, Kisakye had been hospitalised for two weeks after battling an unclear illness. She was transferred from Mulago hospital to IHK after her condition deteriorated. She reportedly had a septic wound on her forearm that got worse despite continuous interventions. FDC president candidate Kizza Besigye came to the singer’s rescue when he went to Mulago hospital and requested for her to be transferred to IHK after being briefed about her worsening condition. The 35-year-old is survived by two children. There were reports that she was planning to stand for Wakiso District Woman MP this election.
ALEX SSEMPIJJA

Alex Ssempijja was one of the dancers in Eddy Kenzo’s Sitya Loss video and a member in the Triplets dancing group but November did start bad for the group after the 13-year-old died in a bicycle accident.
It was reported that Alex was riding the bicycle with his colleague Patricia Nabakooza when its brakes failed and he hit his head on a metallic door, which cut his neck.
“Alex has gone to be with the Lord. They were involved in an accident together with Patricia, the girl who is also in the ‘Sitya Loss’ video. May the Great Lord see us through this hard situation. RIP Alex my brother.” Eddy Kenzo posted on his Facebook wall.
MOROZ

Every artiste’s dream is to be famous but that dream was short-lived for artiste Moroz who died in a car accident on Masaka highway on April 30. Moroz, real name Vincent Semmambo, was among the passengers who died when a commuter taxi they were travelling in rammed into a motorcycle. Five people died on the spot and four others were left nursing serious injuries. He was set for two performances, one in Gomba and the other in Mbarara before the tragic accident.
Moroz was famous for his Bumpwachimpwaki track in which he featured rapper GNL Zamba.
BRENATS

May 20 is the day upcoming artiste Brenda Natukunda aka Brenats died at Kadic hospital following a short illness. According to reliable sources, Brenats fell sick three weeks before her passing but failed to shake the sickness off. She had released songs like Njakulondola, Ekikajo and Tokunsobola.

OTHERS

Bobi Wine’s father
The father of self-proclaimed Ghetto president, Bobi Wine, died on February 10 at Mulago hospital after succumbing to diabetes. Jackson Wellington Ssentamu had been in and out of hospital. He is survived by 40 children, the youngest aged three. Some of his other children include, Eddy Yawe, chairman Nyanzi, Mickie Wine, Banko Man.

Coco Finger’s father
Upon landing at Entebbe airport from his tour in Scandinavia, Coco Finger on March 22 was greeted with sad news – his father had breathed his last the previous morning.
Augustine Otuke, who was in his 80s, succumbed to a stroke caused by high blood pressure.

Maurice Kirya’s mother
Sophie Baguma, mother of artistes Maurice Kirya, Elvis Kirya aka Vampino and Alex Kirya aka Sabasaba lost her battle to cancer at the cancer institute in Mulago hospital on August 9.