Renowned sports figures that went with 2023

The year 2023 came and went with a lot of sorrow in the sports fraternity.

There were many renowned sports figures who passed on, and to celebrate their legacies, it is only fitting that I look back on their contribution to Ugandan sport.

BARNABAS MWESIGA

Former Uganda Cranes winger and coach, he died on September 19, 2023 of suspected hypertension. He was a former left winger with several clubs such as Nsambya, Mbarara, and Kilembe. Besides coaching The Cranes, Mwesiga also handled a couple of clubs, including Mbarara, Kilembe, Dairy, Nsambya, Coffee and KCCA FC.

LT COL ABDALLAH NASUR

The tough-talking former army officer, who died on April 18, 2023, is best remembered as the Central Province governor and his infamous orders to ban Express FC in February, 1977. On the bright side, he uplifted the National Council of Sports during his tenure as chairman.

SAM TIMBE

Many knew him for his success as a coach, but Timbe, who died on August 19, 2023, was a star goalie in the 1970s. He guided Coffee FC to the 1981 Uganda Cup before retiring in 1983. As coach, he led several clubs to major titles, including SC Villa, Atraco (Rwanda), Young Africans and Police (Uganda).

WILLY KYAMBADDE

He was a rare talent, so rare that even though he never lived up to his full potential, Kyambadde’s flashes of genius are still vivid in many people’s eyes.

The former Uganda Cranes, Express, and KCCA FC midfield gem died in the wee hours of June 11, 2023 at his home in Kawempe. He spent years battling liver complications allegedly stemming from alcohol abuse.

IBRAHIM BUWEMBO MUKALAZI

The flying winger was unplayable during his days, which stretched from 1980 to 2005. He featured for a number of clubs such as State House, Express, Coffee and Simba.

He also had spells with the Uganda Cranes from 1990 to 2001. However, the plain-speaking Ibra (as he was known in football circles) spent more than a decade battling several ailments. He died on December 29, 2023, at Mengo hospital.

JOHN MUTENDA

The towering Mutenda was a calming presence at KCCA, and in motorsport. His death on April 26, 2023 shocked the Ugandan sports fraternity and, more so, the Kampala Capital City Authority, the institution and club he served for more than three decades.

VINCENT KHISA

He emerged from Makerere University to become a highly reputed midfield- er, leading Uganda Commercial Bank (UCB) FC to win the 1979 league title.

He also played for Prisons and Uganda Airlines (FC) before his appointment as Fufa administrative secretary under Denis Obua’s leadership. He died on September 1, 2023.

HAJJI ABDUL ALI MUBARAKA

He died silently and few even got to know of his demise on July 30, 2023. However, Mubaraka dedicated his time and money to football for decades.

The Lugazi-based administrator was Scoul FC vice chairman (1994/95–2003/04) and also served as chairman of the Super Division Clubs Association (SDCA) and chairman of the Lugazi Young Football Academy.

DARIUS MUGOYE

He was known to many as Fufa’s second vice president, but few knew him as a force behind developments at the federation. Mugoye dedicated his time and money to football as well as the education sector through the various schools he owned. He passed away on November 7, 2023.

STUART KIWANUKA MUTEBI

The legendary football commentator died on May 20, 2023, aged 62. For more than 30 years, Mutebi worked on radio and TV, becoming one of the most recognisable figures in sports commentary.

JAMES MAYANJA

A decent sports journalist who dedicated his career to the newsroom. He was a workaholic and honest; so, his demise on November 22, 2023, was a big blow to the industry.

RAYMOND TIMOTHY KOMAKECH

Until October 25, 2023, when he passed on, Komakech was head coach of the Big League side, Ndejje University. The former handball coach succumbed to kidney failure at Kiruddu hospital.

HAJJI MOHAMMAD KISAMBIRA

He was best known in football circles as a staunch SC Villa fan, and one time he served on the club’s top executive. But besides being a former secretary general of the Kibuli Muslim faction, Kisambira had been Uganda’s ambassador to Iran.

He passed away on August 3, 2023, in Tehran, Iran.

bzziwa@observer.ug