Just hours after apologizing for fighting over late businessman Ivan Ssemwanga’s wealth, his family has now said they also have a lot of wealth.
Speaking Tuesday at the burial of Ssemwanga in Kayunga, his elder brother Sserunjogi Kinene said the family is not keen on sharing the spoils of the deceased’s wealth.
“A lot has been said that we are fighting over Ssemwanga’s wealth but this is not true. We can’t fight over the late’s money. We too got our money….” he said.
The statement was reiterated by Ssemwanga’s godfather, Herbert Luyinda, who, however pleaded with the public not to abandon them just because Ssemwanga is now dead.
“Ivan has made me a name. Everywhere I went, he would call me, ‘Dad’. Since then I was always respected everywhere. I would enjoy free drinks almost everywhere on his account…” he said.
“The first time he took me to South Africa, I spent over a month there when he was taking care of me. He took me around his schools and many other properties. He bought me everything I wanted, saying, ‘Dad, enjoy. These are the fruits of your sweat’. When I returned, he has been giving me $10,000 every year.”
Luyinda also used the opportunity to speak about Semwanga’s upbringing. He said that Semwanga’s father, George Semwanga Pinto Lutaaya died when he was just six years. He raised him and his sibling to the person he was at the time of his death.
Semwanga’s grandfather, Pinto Katula Lutaya Semwanga was a wealthy and prominent businessman in Kayunga.
Semwanga’s mother, Liize Semwanga was also from a wealthy family. She reportedly shared a father with former energy Minister Syda Bumba, who is currently the Nakaseke MP. Ssemwanga, while growing up, also spent time with his mother’s relatives who were predominantly Muslim. No wonder he had constructed two mosques in South Africa, it was revealed.
“At the time of his (father’s) death, Ivan was just six years old. But if that is what God has wished (Semwanga dying too), we shall move on with that.”
Luyinda pledged to take care of Semwanga’s children and those in South Africa, and contributed US$1000 dollars (about Shs3.5m) to the children’s fund.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of ‘Kwagalana Group’, Godfrey Kirumira contributed Shs5m, SK Mbuga – Shs6m and socialite Jack Pemba contributed Shs10million to the funeral of Semwanga.
