After a week of mourning, hundreds of people converged on Wednesday, June 14, at Nkozi in Mpigi District at the late Kato Lubwama’s ancestral home for his final sendoff.
The fallen comedian, theatre play writer, art critic, and former politician was pronounced dead on Wednesday, June 7, at midnight following heart complications shortly after being rushed to Stana Medical Centre in Bunamwaya.
According to his will, Kato Lubwama preferred to be buried a week after his death. Just as he wished, the last days before his burial saw different people from all walks of life gathering at his home in Mutundwe, Rubaga Division, and finally at the National Theatre to pay their last respects in honour of the contribution he made towards the growth of the theatre industry in Uganda.
The final sendoff of the former Rubaga South Legislator attracted politicians including Members of Parliament, Political Party heads, officials from both the Central and Buganda government, musicians, film directors, actors, comedians, and people from all walks of life. Not even the rain could stop the mourners from bidding farewell to a person who was a friend, mentor, and business partner to many of them.
House of Prayer Ministries Lead Pastor Aloysius Bugingo was also present to preside over the prayers said for Late. Days after his death, there arose a misunderstanding between the family of Kato Lubwama and the Catholic church on the question of praying for the deceased. It was later learnt that the Catholic church had refused to pray for the deceased because he practiced witchcraft and traditional worshiping.
Speech after speech, those who were granted an opportunity to address the mourners talked about the late Kato Lubwama as a frank and straightforward person whose love of art was unmatched. Many of them told stories that portrayed the ties they had to the fallen comedian.
Abby Mukiibi a former workmate of the deceased said, “Kato Lubwama was a good person but people did not understand him. I have been with Kato and we have done everything. I am happy that Kato did whatever he intended to do. There is one thing he was unable to do, and that is the film City. We shall do it.”
Ms. Mariam Ndagire one of the people that founded a drama group called Diamonds Ensemble with Kato Lubwama thanked the mourners for honouring the Late respectfully.
“We met with Kato during our teenage years. He was our strongman. He persuaded and led us to leave ‘Black Pearls’ and started our drama group without even a penny. He is the same person who led us to go and rent a building where Bat Valley Theatre currently stands. What he liked most when we had gone to study Music, Dance, and Drama was to revolutionise performing arts in Uganda,” Ms Ndagire narrated.
“He said, someone who has talent should not be poor, such a person should have everything he or she needs in life. That is the foundation we relied on to become rich and got the money we did not have,” she added.
The Minister of State for Higher Education Honourable John Chryzostom Muyingo also explained the kind of ties he had with the Late that many people were still doubting. He said that Kato Lubwama was his young brother even though they belonged to different clans. “When my mum gave birth to me, she later got married to another man and they gave birth to Kato and our other siblings.”
Mr Muyingo thanked the mourners on behalf of the family for the support extended to them right from the time they learnt about the passing of his young brother.
Kato died as a hero. I believe he is our hero,” he stated.
National Unity Platform Principal Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine addressed mourners. He called upon his fellow artistes to unite and work hand in hand to ensure a well-functioning copyright law is put in place. He strongly argued that artistes cannot benefit from government handouts.
“Do this for your benefit and those who will come after you, so that an artiste in Karamoja Mbarara does not need to come to Kampala to be known,” he said.
Around 6:30 pm, Kato Lubwama was laid to rest in his final resting place amid tears and sorrow.
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