Final year female student killed in church building collapse

A final year student of Uganda Christian University (UCU) Lorita Blessy Asimwe was killed after a church collapsed in Kampala.

Asimwe was due to graduate on July 2, 2021, with a Bachelor of Human Resource Management, having sat for her final exams in January.

The deceased suffered injuries when a ceiling of an auditorium collapsed on her and other congregants at the House of Rest Church at Fido Dido building in Kampala during lunch hour prayers on Monday, March 15.

She breathed her last on Tuesday while at Mulago National Referral Hospital where she had been rushed for treatment after the incident.

Asimwe was laid to rest on Wednesday, March 17, at Kangulumira in Kayunga District where family members and friends lauded her for her generosity.

“She was set to graduate on July 2, at our next graduation ceremony. So as UCU, we shall award her with a posthumous degree,” Mr Frank Obonyo, the UCU communications and marketing manager, said.

Mr Emmanuel Opolot, a cousin of the deceased, described her as a jolly person, charming and jovial budding entrepreneur.

Mr Opolot revealed that the deceased had been employed as sales agent with a local beverage company and fended for the family.

“She was a very jolly person and a sister who would always send me a message every morning to check on me. She has been a source of joy to us as a family,” Mr Opolot said.

“Being the first born, we had a lot of hope in her. Even when she was a lively person, she was also a responsible citizen because she had a small business of Chupa ku Chupa from which she would earn a living and also support her sisters. Chupa ku Chupa was a deal she had endorsed with beverage distributors to promote their brands, Mr Opolot said.

Ms Molly Kangume, a colleague who shared class with the deceased since 2017 when they both enrolled at UCU, described Asimwe’s passing as a shock, since she had been at a social event with friends the previous day.

“I got the news through her best friend. It was so shocking because at the weekend, she was out with her friends and even posted everything on her Facebook status,” Ms Kangume said.