Hundreds of mourners have gatherd to pay their last respects to fallen News anchor Rosemary Nankabirwa who succumbed to cancer on Sunday. She had been flown to Agha Khan hospital after friends and fans contributed over 110million on Saturday.
It was a sorrowfullafternoon today at All saints chapel as mourners joined to pay their last respects to Nankabirwa.
Laying in a brown casket that had a jesus on the cross crest, Nankabirwa;s body was wheeled amid sobbs from friends and relatives by Uganda Funeral services staff into the church where she would be prayed for.
Monsignor Gerald Kalumba, the service’s main preacher urged mourners to emulate Nankabirwa. Monsignor kalumba said the Rose was a very staunch believer and a woman of faith. “One of the priests met Rose in church in london, he was so surprised, not many young girls go to church these days,” he narrated. “She never lost hope and she would call me for holy communion even when she was in pain”
Monsignor Gerald Kalumba
Rose’s best friend Rhoda made people cry after she narrated how rose was a strong woman. She said Rose was a believer. “Rose was singing while on the plane. She left me a message that we should love one another,” said teary Rhoda.
Many people from all walks of life attended the service. Among them included Ruth Nankabirwa, represented the government, Jim Muhwezi, Paddy Ankunda and media personalities.
Rosemary Nankabirwa’s bosy will spend a night in Kanyanya where the vigil will be held. She will be burried on Wednesday in Kinoni Masaka.
NTV argues mourners not to blame government for Rose’s death.
Nation television Ntv used the opportunity to exornorate government from Rose’s death. Nelson Muhiirwa, the Ntv Human resource said that the government was not to blame for Rose’s death. “Doctors in the Britain failed but its doctors in Uganda that diagonised and treated her, don’t blame the government.” He said. Muhiirwa’s remarks come after the government was criticised for not providing enough resources for the Mulago Cancer Institute.
Mr Gashumba lays a wreath during Nankabirwa Requiem mass
President Yoweri kaguta Museevein contributed 5million shillings towards Rose’s treatment in the Save Rosemary Nankabirwa fundraising drive.
The Ministry of Health in partnership with Sickle Cell Network Uganda, Makerere University, and Sickle Cell Association of Uganda among other partners will be launching a routine sickle cell screening in all high burden districts in Uganda.
The launch will kick off at Makerere University Freedom Square on April 16, 2015 from 11:00am to 4:00 pm. The function will also give an opportunity to people to be screened free of charge.
According to a study conducted by the Ministry of Health together with Makerere College of Health Sciences and Cincinnati Children’s hospital in the US, northern Uganda has the highest prevalence rate. The findings of the study revealed that the region has 18.6% sickle cell trait.
Sickle cell is a genetic blood disorder that affects the haemoglobin within the red blood cells.
Kampala- Isaiah Katumwa and Hugh Masekela are slated for a jazz concert next month at the Kampala Serena Hotel. Both musicians are gifted Jazz maestro and whose music has an impact across the globe. Currently Katumwa is the leading jazz maestro and has had the most profound influence on the scene in Uganda over the last 20 years of stage performances. While Hugh Masekela is a world renowned flugelhornist, composer, and defiant political voice with a solo career that has spanned five decades and during which he released over 40 albums.
Event goal is to elevate Ugandan jazz to the world stage and inspiring local young Musicians. The event is scheduled forFriday May 8, 2015 at the Serena Hotel starting from 7 pm to 10.30pm.
There will also be a workshop for young Uganda Musicians and music students at International University of East Africa by Hugh and Isaiah on Saturday 9, May 2015 to inspire young talent.
Tickets will go for Shs100, 000 for platinum, gold at Shs50, 000 and silver at Shs20, 000. Airtel Uganda is the main sponsors while Jazz FM 106.1 and International University of East Africa are the silver sponsors.
Rosemary Nankabirwa, one of the best female news anchors that made youths and middle aged men start watching night news, died on Sunday in Agha Khan Hospital, Nairobi. She was 37.
The cause of her death was adrenal cancer, a disease she battled since early December last year. Her mother Mrs. Rebbecca Kibirige said Doctors diagonised her daughter with adrenal cancer at Mulago in late December last year.
Former, NTV Uganda Farai Mwakutuya, who co- anchored with her on News at 9 said “she will be forever be remembered as one of the best there has ever been.” He described her as the highlight of his days having got the honour and privilege to work alongside her.
Nankabirwa was known to her workmates as someone full of life. She was friendly, her smile brightened hearts. Unlike some television personalities that stammer when they meet prominent people, Rosemary was not that type. Ntv news manager, Maurice Mugisha, a Nankabirwa’s longtime friend and co-anchor couldn’t believe when news of Rose’s death surfaced. He referred to her as “a broadcast gem”
“We used to joke in the newsroom and I want to point a day when Kato joked the word “nonsense” and we burst into laughter,” said Andrew Ariko after hearing that Rose had passed on.
“We used to call her pinky, she was always colourfull. She loved kids and she would call m on weekends and tell me to take the gals to her,” narrated tearful Faridah Nakazibwe, her friend who worked with Rose for 5 years
Others remember Rose as a down to earth person who didn’t brag about her status. Margret Wamanga recalls that one day she contacted Rose for a feature on the country’s successful women but to her surprise Nankabirwa just laughed it off. “I don’t think I’m successful yet; I’m still working at it,” she says modestly,” she said
In a society where beautiful women were thought to be feeble minded, Rose disproved that. Nanks, as Ernest Bazanye called her in his articles, was a woman who almost knew everything. “I consider myself a person of considerable intelligence and I am …….trust me … able to read a bill and comprehend it,” she boasted on one of her word press blogs.
Nankabirwa joined the media industry in around 2005; she was the first female Ntv news anchor a company she joined in 2006 after leaving Wavah Broadcasting services WBS. She technically changed the face of news anchoring for women. “She demonstrated ability to read news with passion. She demonstrated to us that a woman could do it equally the same as a man,” commented one of her former bosses.
Many students were inspired by Nankabirwa, she was that news anchor you watched and wished there could be like her. She was smart always, wearing her suits, smiling and she owned the moment. To her anchoring wasn’t a task, it was a hobby. “Thank you for being and inspiration to many of us. My days at University watching you as a anchor paid off,” said Sheila Nduhukire.
If you doubted her faith in God, then it’s high time your view changed. Even on her death bed, Pinky prayed to the lord to save her, she wore a rosery and was a staunch catholic, she believed that the lord would save her, when most people get some little energy they either eat or ask their loved ones to come and be by their side. When Rose found some little power, she thanked the lord to save her. “Jesus save me” were the last words as the lord took her soul to rest. “She first closed her eyes, and after 10 minutes, she gained some energy and said Jesus save me. Immediately, she breathed her last,” said Catherine Nayiga, Nankabirwa’s sister.
Even in all that pain, Nankabirwa’s faith in Jesus never withered, she believed that she would be fine
“When I read for her the letter from a 5-year-old girl a pupil of Rohana Academy who sent her sh20,000 she had got from a ‘rat’ after removing her tooth, she became strong and promised me that she was going to fight on” said her sister Cathy.
Her followers will surely miss her all round tweets. “Five goals (laughs) what is this? Netball?? This World cup is to be very Ugandan… Is just the one!” she asked after her favourite team Brazil was thumped by Germany. Her friends on facebook will nolonger be seeing the colour full flower pictures she used to post on her time line,
Although many disputed her age with some claiming she was older than 37, Rose never said a word, she knew she was young, lively and she had a whole world to herself and to her that meant everything. Maybe she discovered she had cancer some years back but she kept it to herself because she didn’t want her loved ones to worry, her mother only knew last year that her daughter had cancer when she was tested at Mulago.
Who is Rosemary?
Rosemary Nankabirwa was born January 3, 1978.
Nankabirwa went to Bishop’s school in Mukono, and later proceeded to Melvin Jones Lions Academy
She also attended the Kenya school of Professional Studies before joining the Andre Crawford Media School for a diploma in Mass Communication y in Nairobi Kenya
Back in Uganda, Nankabirwa worked for Kampala FM, in 2005, WBS television and later joined NTV in 2006.
She once worked as a computer programmer but quit after a year and then joined Kampala Fm as a reporter and presenter where she left after one year and joined television. She the joined WBS television as a news anchor on Lunch time News, did a breakfast show and prime news. She was also an editor with WBS.
She joined NTV in 2006 as a News at 9 anchor and reporter. She was also the presenter of a business magazine that aired weekly.
At the time of her death she was pursuing a degree in journalism at the University of London in the UK.
Preparations for her requiem will be today at 2 in the afternoon at Christ the King and funeral will be in Masaka on Wednesday according to her brother Robert.
Dr. Speciosa attends Champions’ re-launch Johannesburg, South Africa, 13th April 2015: Former Uganda Vice President, currently a Member of the AU Panel of the Wise Dr. Speciosa Wandira-Kazibwe, has today challenged Africa’s Ministries of Health to become true stewards of the health sector instead of ministries of disease.
She was speaking at the re-launch of the Champions for an HIV-Free Generation held at Michelangelo Hotel in Johannesburg South Africa. She urged African governments to pay attention to building on holistic health systems that take into account different stakeholders dealing with the social determinants of health and not just medical systems if the fight again HIV/AIDS is to come to fruition. The re-launch ceremony is being attended by former African Heads of State: H.E Festus Mogae (Botswana), Chairman; H.E Kenneth Kaunda (Zambia); H.E Joyce Banda (Malawi); H.E Joachim Chissano (Mozambique); H.E Benjamin Mkapa (Tanzania); H. E Alpha Konare (Mali); and, H.E Kgalema Motlanthe (South Africa).
While unanimously agreeing to renew their efforts towards the fight against AIDS, one by one, the leaders echoed their voices in support of the Champions’ cause that kick-started in 2008; “Coming together is extremely useful. We should pick out key points and help move Africa in healthy way,” Says Kenneth Kaunda “Let us not ignore traditional healers, let us explore and appreciate what they know”, says President Joachim Chissano.
President Alpha Konare called on African governments to unite and start producing Anti-retroviral drugs locally. This would bring down the costs and enhance easy access to treatment. “We must persist in getting current leaders on board,” Says President Benjamin Mkapa. He adds that the Champions should play a key role across the continent during World Aids Day celebration to give it more visibility.
“Our New approach is to recruit new champions including the youths, private sector, religious leaders and even footballers. This will help to tap into new ideas in the fight against AIDS,” says President Festus Mogae President Joyce Banda took cognizance of the need to get men to health facilities as a way to achieve collective success and not to forget role of poverty in fuelling the epidemic.
Former South Africa President Kgalema Motlanthe saluted the Champions for playing a pivotal role in addressing the HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in his country. In the aftermath of their intervention, over 2Million South Africans got tested. The champions vowed to focus their intervention on young people, especially women from the age of 16 to ensure an AIDS free generation that will fuel Africa’s development.
Speaking on behalf of the U.S President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Ambassador Deborah L. Birx noted Uganda’s decline in the fight against AIDS. Once the reference point on the African continent, Uganda is now said to register 40% of the new infections among adults. Deborah added that 30% of the new infections are in young people, a figure far higher than ever before. This concern was echoed by Luiz Loures, Deputy Executive Director of UNAIDS who stressed the critical role of the Champions in arresting the march of HIV/AIDS.
Celebrated news anchor Rosemary Nankabirwa will laid to rest on Wedneday, NTV Uganda, her former employer has announced.
The burial will be preceded by a requiem mass at Christ the King church, Kampala on Tuesday at 2 p.m. and a vigil in Kanyanya, a Kampala Suburb, Solomon Muhirwa, the committee chairman told journalists in Kampala today. Muhirwa is also the Human Resource Manager at NTV.
Information about Nankabirwa’s death came in on Monday afternoon on local radio stations and the social media. The stations claimed that Nankabirwa had died in the morning but NTV Uganda via their twitter account dismissed the claims.
“Until you have an official statement from NTV Uganda, please refrain from spreading the rumour. We ask that you instead keep her in your prayers,” read the tweet.
Later, NTV Uganda confirmed Rosemary Nankabirwa’s passing on “Rosemary Nankabirwa has been pulled off life support. Her family has confirmed that she has passed on. May her soul rest in peace,” stated the tweet.
Her passing on comes just a week after another News Anchor Francis Bbale of Uganda Broadcasting Corporation succumbed to cancer.
Journalists, politicians and her fans have taken to various social media platforms to pay tribute to the fallen News anchor. Her remains arrived today from Nairobi where she had been flown for treatment.
Burial arrangements for Rosemary Nankabirwa
Rosemary Nankabirwa was born on the 4th of January 1978. She was educated at Bishop’s School Mukono before going on to join Melvin Jones Lions Academy in Nairobi and later attended the Kenya School Of Professional Studies. She received a diploma in Mass communication from the Andrew Crawford Media Training School.
Rosemary’s had an industrious career that saw her work at the Radio Waumini in Nairobi in 2004, Kampala FM in 2005, WBS TV (2005) before joining NTV Uganda from 2006 to 2011.
At the time of her death she was at the University of London studying journalism.
Rosemary will be fondly missed and remembered by all of us here at NTV Uganda. May her soul rest in peace.
The European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department (ECHO) has provided an additional 1 Million Euros contribution to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to support the agency’s 2015 emergency response to South Sudanese refugees in Uganda.
In a press release today, UNICEF will support four main interventions in the districts of Adjumani, Arua, Koboko, Yumbe and Kiryandogo in northern Uganda.
In the area of Immunisation, over 145,000 children in refugee camps and host communities will be immunised against measles while around 62,000 under give children will be immunised against polio.
In the area of nutrition, within both refugee and host communities, Vitamin A supplements will be provided to around 63,000 children aged 6-59 months, deworming medication given to nearly 150,000 children aged 1-14 years and over 2,500 children will receive Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) therapeutic care.
In addition, infant and young child feeding services, maternal nutrition counselling services and iron/folic supplements will be provided to over 16,000 pregnant women. The comprehensive response is intended to contribute to reducing the high levels of Global Acute Malnutrition (19.9%) and SAM (4.5%) among refugees as shown in a 2014 nutrition assessment.
In the area of education and protection, 42,000 refugees and school children will be provided with access to water, sanitation and hygiene services while 25,000 refugee children will also be able to access psychosocial and recreational support services at 25 child friendly centers.
UNICEF will also continue to register and re-unite separated children with their families using the innovative RapidFTR child identification and family reunification system as well as further assist vulnerable children by strengthening increased access to psychosocial and recreational support at 25 child friendly services; registration of separated children through using RapidFTR, a UNICEF Uganda innovation and improved support of vulnerable children using Child Protection Information Management System.
This is the second tranche of funding UNICEF has received from ECHO towards emergency response to South Sudan refugee crisis in Uganda. The first tranche of funding totaling 1.9 Million Euros was provided in August 2014.
“With this additional funding, we are now able to expand our emergency response to thousands of South Sudanese refugee children in Uganda,” said UNICEF’s Representative to Uganda, Ms. Aida Girma. “We are extremely grateful to ECHO and the people of the European Union for the ongoing support to provide technical services that will improve the health, education and protection of South Sudanese children in Uganda.”
Under the overall coordination of Office of Prime Minister and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UNICEF is providing technical leadership in areas related to its mandate. This includes water and sanitation, health and nutrition for children and lactating mothers, child protection and emergency education.
“We are proud to continue our partnership with UNICEF to expand life-saving services to South Sudanese refugee children and their families in Uganda and remain committed to supporting the people of South Sudan with humanitarian assistance as needed,” said ECHO’s Isabelle D’Haudt – Humanitarian advisor, Horn of Africa team – Kenya and Uganda.
With funding from ECHO and other partners, to-date UNICEF has set up 36 child friendly spaces in Arua, Adjumani and Kiryandogo with recreational, indoor and outdoor materials; registered and provided birth certificates to 1,714 refugee children under the age of five; established 17 Early Childhood Development centres with current enrolment at 5,975 children; facilitated the construction and equipping of classrooms in 21 schools; sent supplies to 23 overcrowded schools; constructed 11 motorised water systems to reduce the distance to access water from 1km to 500m from house to water point; 72 health facilities have been supported to establish therapeutic feeding programme while 1,424 children with severe acute malnutrition have been treated.
President Museveni has donated a brand new vehicle to Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II’s as the king marked his 60th birthday.
The vehicle new Toyota Land Cruiser worth Shs300million was handed over to Mutebi before his subjects that attended the birthday celebrations by the Vice president Edward Ssekandi Kiwanuka at the monarch headquarters in Mengo.
Buganda kingdom also handed over a new building called Masengere to Mutebi as part of the birthday gifts.
The donation of the car to Mutebi in recognizing his development and welfare programmes within the kingdom is a sign of the restoration of relations between Mengo and the Central government.
The celebrations were attended by thousands of Buganda loyalists.
Kampala. Rosemary Nankbirwa is dead. The Media fraternity is once again mourning the former NTV news anchor Rosemary who succumbed to cancer at Agha Khan Hospital in Nairobi today afternoon where she was flown for treatment on Saturday.
Information about Nankabirwa’s death came in at around 2pm in the afternoon on local radio stations and the social media. The stations claimed that Nankabirwa had died in the morning but NTV Uganda via their twitter account dismissed the claims.
The late Nankabirwa
“Until you have an official statement from NTV Uganda, please refrain from spreading the rumour. We ask that you instead keep her in your prayers,” read the tweet.
At around 3, NTV Uganda confirmed that Rosemary Nankabirwa had died. “Rosemary Nankabirwa has been pulled off life support. Her family has confirmed that she has passed on. May her soul rest in peace,” stated the tweet.
Her passing on comes just a week after another News Anchor Francis Bbale of Uganda Broadcasting Corporation succumbed to cancer.
Journalists, politicians and her fans have taken to various social media platforms to pay tribute to the fallen News anchor.
“Rosemary came to check on me at work a couple of years ago. I didn’t think it’d be our last meeting, kitalo nyo,” posted BBC presenter Allan Kasujja on twitter.
Sarah Kigongo posted, “It hurts Rosemary has not made it. From God we come and to God we return.”
Siima K K sabiti a presenter with XFM said “How sad. Rest in Peace Rosemary Nankabirwa.
Olara Otunu, the UPC president posted “You made your family and friends proud Rosemary Nankabirwa. You served your country right Now rest my jolly young girl.”
A Trained Computer Programmer who switched to Journalism.
She was flown to Agha Khan on Saturday morning. On that same day, friends and fans joined a campaign dubbed “Save Rosemary Nankabirwa Fundraising Drive,” where they raised over 100milliion Ugshs for her treatment.
Rosemary has been battling adrenocortical cancer, a very rare disease that affects the adrenal glands..
Tributes are still flowing in via Facebook and twitter. Rosemary Nankabirwa will forever be in our hearts and we at Eagle pray that the Lord grants your soul eternal peace. Just like the UPC president Olara Otunnu, we too say “You served your country right. Now rest our dear friend.”
Campaigns to raise money to have the two news anchors to be flown to India for treatment had just kicked.
Cancer: Drive to fundraise for former NTV’s Rosemary Nakabirwa on
Cancer: Drive to fundraise for former NTV’s Rosemary Nakabirwa on
Former NTV’s news anchor Rose Mary Nankabirwa is dead. She was 35. She was pronounced dead Sunday at the AghaKhan hospital in Nairobi, Kenya where she had been transferred for further treatment.
A fundraising campaign by to save her life was launched last week by former employer NTV Uganda and over shs60million was raised for her transfer to Nairobi on Saturday on a chartered plane.Eulogies from friends, politicians and fellow journalists are trending on social media.
Forum for Democratic Change
We join the NTV Family and all Ugandans in celebrating the life of our own Rosemary Nankabirwa. This is a life taken to soon but your candle will burn for long because even when she has left us, she will remain an inspiration to the young people of our country.
Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago
Rest in Peace, Rosemary Nankabirwa. My condolences to the family, friends and media fraternit
Exile colonel Samson Mande
I’m very disturbed by the news that Rosemary Nankabirwa has been pulled off life support and her family has confirmed that she has passed on. Rosemary, Rest in Peace. ….In a functioning state, her Life could have been saved. Something must be done to transition Uganda from a failed state. Why should Ugandans have to always seek medical attention abroad when Uganda has been producing some of the world’s best doctors and medics? Uganda needs a system overhaul.
