The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Godfrey Nuwagaba, the treasurer of the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) is dead. The long time Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) official collapsed on an Emirates flight that was headed for Dubai Monday evening and later died.
UAF president Dominic Otuchet confirmed the news, describing it as a big loss to Ugandan sports.
“I talked to him three times before he left Entebbe, only to get news from UOC’s William Blick this morning that tragedy had struck in Addis Ababa,” Otuchet said.
“Because of his abilities he had many responsibilites, including being manager of many of our top athletes like Stephen Kiprotich.”
The cause of death is yet to be established but reports indicate that because of an emergency onboard, the Emirates plane headed to Dubai from Entebbe was diverted to Addis Ababa.
He was put on oxygen as the flight was diverted, as attempts were made to resuscitate him. He was confirmed dead at an Addis Ababa hospital hours after landing.
We have learnt with profound shock of the sudden and tragic passing of our Treasurer Godfrey Nuwagaba. More details will be provided. #RIP pic.twitter.com/n9v0RgMpnh
— NOC UGANDA (@Official_UOC) October 17, 2017
RIP Godfrey Nuwagaba, you have run your race. Ugandan athletics will not be the same again without you @Official_UOC
— Mark Ssali (@MarkSsali) October 17, 2017
Nuwagaba was reportedly traveling with his wife and child to Dubai on a business trip. He was an educationist, proprietor of Standard Primary School in Zana and bursar of Standard High School.
The former long distance runner has been a key figure in Ugandan sports for the past decade where he has risen to become treasurer of the athletics body UAF and Uganda Olympic Committee.
His last major assignment was in July, when he headed the Uganda team at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Bahamas. Uganda won one medal, a gold by Josephine Lalam Joyce in the javelin.
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