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Caskets bearing the bodies of the deceased persons during the funeral service on Friday
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A somber mood engulfed Kisawo village, Kayunga town council, as the remains of four family members who perished in a road accident in South Africa were returned for burial. The deceased were identified as Moses Ssemwogerere, 42, his wife Rebecca Arinaitwe, 41, and their two children, Winfred, 12, and Samuel, aged two.
Hundreds of mourners gathered at the home of Alice Nalubega, Ssemwogerere's mother, on Friday to pay their respects. The family had lived in South Africa for 17 years, where both Moses and Rebecca were well-known teachers.
According to Isaac Ddamulira, Ssemwogerere's brother, the tragic accident occurred on September 1, 2024, as the family was traveling to Tsomo, where Rebecca worked as a teacher. At around 11:00 PM, while driving near Butterworth in the Eastern Cape Province, their car was hit by another vehicle whose driver was allegedly intoxicated. The impact forced Ssemwogerere's car off the road and into a valley. Police later recovered the bodies of all the passengers.
Ddamulira remembered his late brother and sister-in-law as devout and God-fearing individuals, noting that they had attended church just hours before the accident.
State minister for planning, Amos Lugoloobi, praised Nalubega for her role in raising and educating her children, stating, "It is through her efforts that Ssemwogerere has left a lasting legacy both here in Uganda and in South Africa, where he was recognized as a prominent teacher."
Nalubega, though visibly composed, expressed her grief. She revealed that this was the first time her son and his family were returning to Uganda since they left in 2007, adding that they had planned to visit in December. "I was expecting them to return alive, but unfortunately, they have come back in coffins," she said.
She thanked the Ugandan community in South Africa for their support in repatriating the bodies. A close friend, Kyeyune Bosco, shared that Ssemwogerere had been planning a large family gathering in December to celebrate with relatives who had missed their wedding in South Africa.
After the service, the family was laid to rest in Namyoya village, Mukono district.
