In memoriam: Celebrities who died this year [Pulse Picks 2023]

1. Olaxes Ismail

Also known as Jajja Kalevu Ichuli, the social commentator was shot dead on Saturday, May 6.

According to the Police, he was gunned down at 9:20P.M., give or take, in Kyanja Central Zone, Nakawa Division in Kampala.

The assailants have never been identified. Born Ibrahim Tusubira, he was gunned down while heading home. He was traveling in his motor vehicle, registered under number UBK 213D, with his driver, Mathias Waswa, police said. Police said the killers used a submachine gun(SMG). The driver survived the attack.

The car he was traveling in – a Toyota Hiace, aka Drone, was gifted to him by businessman Hamis Kiggundu in July 2021.

Through his video content and appearances on other media platforms, including mainstream TV shows, Ichuli dabbled in controversial topics that endeared him to some and annoyed others.

He talked about politics, the entertainment industry, and social issues, giving takes on some of the most powerful individuals in all the said sectors.

That's why some like the BBC radio presenter Alan Kasujja believed it's hard to tell who could have engineered his death.

To understand how influential he was, you've to look at people who paid tribute to him.

They included President Yoweri Museveni, the Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among, her deputy, Thomas Tayebwa, and Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

Isma Olaxes Ichuli, who returned to Uganda in 2015 after spending close to 10 years in Sweden, had been the President of the Uganda Bloggers Association since 2021.

He left Sweden where he was undertaking manual labour because he said he had failed to find ‘meaningful’ work for his age. He had been there since 2005.

2. Kato Lubwama 

The former Rubaga South MP died in June. Kato Lubwama, who was an actor, singer, media investor and meida personality, was laid to rest on Wednesday, June 14 at his ancestral home in Nkozi,

3. Evelyn Nakabira Lagu

Musician and actress Evelyn Nakabira Lagu passed away after a long battle with kidney complications. She died on September 17 at the age of 41.