Ugandan Veteran Journalist Jimmy Ssekabitto, Dies:
Jimmy Ssekabitto began his journalism career in 2001 at Radio Buddu, where he gained valuable experience before transitioning to CBS FM in 2003.
He was esteemed for his commitment to unbiased reporting and loyalty to the Buganda Kingdom, earning him considerable respect within Uganda’s media landscape.
Alex Nsubuga, the news editor at CBS Radio, described him as a dedicated journalist. “As a station, we have lost an experienced professional. His deep love for both his work and the Kingdom will be greatly missed,” Nsubuga remarked.
When Did Jimmy Ssekabitto Die?
On June 27, 2025, veteran journalist Jimmy Ssekabitto—who had been a long-time correspondent for Central Broadcasting Services (CBS) FM, affiliated with the Buganda Kingdom—was discovered unconscious near the Uganda Red Cross offices in Kampala.
He was pronounced dead upon arrival at Lubaga Hospital.
The 42-year-old resident of Sembabule District passed away under circumstances that have prompted a joint investigation by authorities from Masaka and Kampala.
The journalism community is mourning this significant loss amid ongoing inquiries into his sudden death.
Who Was Jimmy Ssekabitto?
Ssekabitto’s journalism career started in 2001 at Radio Buddu, where he refined his skills before joining CBS FM in 2003. Known for his dedication to fair journalism and loyalty to the Buganda Kingdom, he became a prominent figure within Uganda’s media industry. Alex Nsubuga noted, “As a station, we have lost a seasoned journalist who cherished both his role and the Kingdom; his absence will be profoundly felt.”
The Final Journey
On the night prior to his passing, Jimmy Ssekabitto traveled overnight from Masaka to Kampala to attend a friend’s wedding Mass scheduled for 9 a.m. on June 27, 2025, at Rubaga Cathedral.
Goge, the taxi driver who took him there, stated that they arrived at Kampala’s New Taxi Park around 5:40 a.m., after which Ssekabitto took a boda boda (motorcycle taxi) toward the cathedral.
“He mentioned he was going to Lubaga for the wedding ceremony at 9 a.m., planning to return to Masaka afterward; I was shocked when I received a call just twenty minutes later informing me of his death,” Goge recounted.
Eyewitnesses described distressing scenes near the Uganda Red Cross offices where Ssekabitto was found unresponsive with fluids reportedly leaking from his mouth and nose.
Sam Kisiitu, an observer present at the scene shared how boda boda riders gathered around him: “When I approached closer, I saw someone lying on the ground. They helped lift him onto one of their motorcycles and rushed him to Lubaga Hospital where he was declared dead upon arrival,” Kisiitu noted.
An anonymous medic from Lubaga Hospital confirmed that two men brought Ssekabitto in on a motorcycle but mentioned that one of them vanished after reaching the facility; they were able to speak with the cyclist who claimed he had merely been asked to transport him.
A Personal Connection to the Wedding
Jonan Jjumba, another journalist from Sembabule revealed that he last spoke with Jimmy Ssekabitto around midnight before his trip to Kampala.
Both were part of Jude Kiganda’s wedding organizing committee; Jjumba informed Ssekabitto that he would not be able to attend but suggested finding alternative arrangements.
