Angella Namirembe: she lived loud, fought hard and left too soon

The news of the sudden passing of Angella Namirembe has left many in shock and disbelief.

For those who knew her, Angella was not just a name. She was an energy, a voice and a presence that demanded attention wherever she went. If you never met her in person, you most likely heard her on radio or television, debating fearlessly and articulating her convictions with rare clarity.

She spoke with purpose and lived with intensity. Angella first came to public attention during her days at Kyambogo University, where she was an active member of the Uganda Young Democrats (UYD).

Her sharp intellect and unyielding spirit quickly propelled her into the frontline of youth activism. She later became one of the early sparks in the People Power movement, earning a reputation as a bold feminist and outspoken human rights advocate.

Many will also remember her quiet compassion, particularly her work with children at Theresa Ministries under Fr Raymond Kalanzi. Fittingly, no wonder her last major public appearance was at Lubaga cathedral, where she joined the Buganda Youth Council to support the centenary celebrations of the Cathedral under the theme “Yooyoota Lubaga.”

Those who saw her that day described her as radiant and full of life. None of them knew that heaven was preparing for its latest guest. Over time, our interactions with Angella became warm and personal.

She once teased me, saying, “Elvis, I’m going to show you my man and shockingly, you even know him.”

She laughed and changed the subject before revealing more, later enrolling for a bachelor of Laws at Uganda Christian University (UCU). Each time I returned from the United States, her father, Lawrence Kiwanuka, would hand me a suitcase or two “for Angella.”

She would later stop by my office at the Lord Mayor’s Parlor to collect them with thoughtfulness wrapped in laughter and little bossiness. To those close to her, Angella could be charmingly annoying and irritating.

The kind of irritation born out of intelligence and conviction. She was assertive, principled and allergic to pretense. If you crossed the line, she didn’t hesitate to call you out and yes, she often reported any unwelcome admirers to her father with pride.

She had a knack of taking unpopular yet principled decisions when she was smaller in size but heavier in conviction. One evening at the UYD Kabalaza (our informal “think tank”).

Angella walked in with comrade Doreen Kaija, now head of the NUP School of Leadership and currently detained at Luzira prison. Without hesitation, Angella announced, “I am going to contest for Kampala Woman MP.”

The veranda fell silent. Labson Kijjambu almost dropped his tea in disbelief. But that was Angella. She was audacious, confident and unafraid to dream boldly. When the People Power movement faced internal storms, she found refuge at the Lord Mayor’s Parlor under Erias Lukwago.

There, she became a bridge for budding activists seeking mentorship, often introducing them to senior political figures for guidance. On the fateful morning, Angella was preparing to sit a test at UCU.

Like many students pressed for time, she boarded a boda boda. Along the way, tragedy struck. A private car with Congolese number plates rammed into the motorcycle. The impact instantly killed a pupil from Eagle’s Nest primary school, threw Angella into a drainage channel and left the rider severely injured.

The driver fled the scene. Bystanders, instead of helping, reportedly looted her belongings, a grim reflection of the moral decay that often follows accidents in our city. Angella was rushed to Old Kampala Hospital and later to Mulago National Referral Hospital for further treatment management.

However, delays in emergency response cost precious time. Her Kenyan flag bracelet led some to assume she was Kenyan, which ironically may have drawn more immediate attention. Despite all efforts, she succumbed to excessive bleeding!

The boda boda rider deserves medals. He later went to UCU to report the tragedy. Her classmates, realizing she had missed her test, began searching for her. Eventually, they went to Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago’s because she used to take them to him for mentorship and Mumbejja Tinah Walugembe, her long time political elder sister and ally who coordinated the final arrangements for her journey home.

Angella’s death is not just a personal loss; it is a painful reminder of the urgent need for an effective national emergency response system. Too many lives are lost on our roads due to delayed or inadequate medical assistance.

It is perhaps time for Uganda to consider a national emergency contact initiative. This should be something like the “Angella Code,” where every citizen carries basic emergency contact in a bracelet for quick response.

According to the Kampala Road Traffic Report (2024), Uganda recorded 25,107 road crashes, a 6.4% increase from the previous year, resulting in 25,808 casualties. Serious injuries in Kampala alone rose by 12%. Globally, more than 1.25 million people die annually in road crashes.

If Angella were here, she would say sharply; “Stop lamenting and fix the system!” Her voice would have demanded accountability, not sympathy.

Special recognition goes to Eng Jemima Nalumansi of KCCA, whose work under the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) continues to champion safer urban mobility.

But these efforts need national support and enforcement. Angella Namirembe may have lived briefly, but she lived boldly. She had the rare gift of walking into a dull room and setting it ablaze with bold ideas and conviction.

Whether you agreed with her or not, she made you think and she made you care. At one point, when approached by an NRM official with enticing offers, she simply asked, “Why would you want to exchange my small request for free speech with your big offers?” That ended the conversation.

She would not compromise her integrity. Farewell comrade, sister and iron activist. Your laughter, courage and stubborn honesty will continue to echo in the corridors of youth activism and the conscience of a nation you loved deeply.

Rest well, Angella Namirembe. Your purpose lives on.

elvisnsonyi@gmail.com

The author is a practitioner in Human Rights, Dialogue, Mediation and Conflict Resolution

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