At the funeral of his son, Cedric Babu Ndilima, Capt. Francis Babu made an emotional appeal to the Commander of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, urging him to prioritize the equipping of military hospitals to reduce the number of Ugandans seeking medical care abroad.
Gen. Muhoozi, a childhood friend of Cedric, shared a deep bond with him dating back to the 1980s during their time in exile in Nairobi, Kenya. The two attended the same schools, including Kampala Parents School and St. Mary’s College Kisubi.
Speaking during the funeral service, Capt. Babu emphasized the importance of investing in military health facilities: “The best hospitals in America are military hospitals. They lead in research and innovation. We are waiting for ours to reach that level,” he said.
“Let me tell you, all U.S. presidents go to military or navy hospitals. We have the potential to do the same. We have excellent doctors in this country they just need the right equipment.” he said.
Reflecting on his son’s legacy and the values he embodied, Capt. Babu added “What you are seeing here today is the future of our country friendliness, inclusiveness, and unity. Cedric demonstrated these values in his own unique way.”
Capt. Babu also shared the heartbreaking moment of Cedric’s passing:“We were there when he died. That day, we were praying. And just as we said ‘Amen’, the lights went out in the hospital. That was the moment he left us.”
Gen. Muhoozi, visibly moved, mourned the loss of Cedric Babu, who served as Vice Chairman for Kampala on the Central Committee of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU). He described Cedric as a close friend, a patriot, and a multi-talented leader.
“Cedric excelled in everything he did from sports to politics. He was among the best tennis players Uganda has ever produced,” Gen. Muhoozi noted.
He also recalled a recent visit from Cedric, during which they discussed the future and Cedric’s intention to contest in the 2026 General Elections.
“He won the NRM primaries for the Kampala Central parliamentary seat in the last elections, even against more experienced opponents. Though he lost in the general election, he never gave up the struggle.”
Cedric’s mother, Olive Zaitun Kigongo, also gave a moving tribute. She recounted how Cedric had collapsed in Kigali, Rwanda, where he was supporting his son Klian at a tennis tournament.
“I was in Kuala Lumpur, preparing to travel elsewhere. But something told me to go home. The next morning, I flew to Kigali and found Cedric at King Faisal Hospital. My family in Kigali was already there, taking care of him,” she said.
Doctors diagnosed Cedric with severe heart failure. He was later flown to Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, supported by friends and family.
“It was terrifying. He had always been full of life and never seriously ill. I believed he would make it,” Olive said.
She spoke about raising Cedric alone in Nairobi during a tumultuous time in Uganda:
“I didn’t have help from my parents not because they didn’t care, but because the situation wouldn’t allow it. I raised him by myself. He was everything to me. I even gave him a Kinyarwanda nickname‘Gahungu’meaning ‘young man’.”
“He always knew when I was happy or when something was wrong. He was my only son, and he was deeply loved.”
Cedric Babu, a prominent sportsman and respected public figure, passed away on May 31, 2025, at Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi while receiving treatment for severe heart failure. He had been airlifted there from Kigali after collapsing at his son’s tennis tournament.
In a final effort to save his life, the family had begun raising £300,000 (about UGX 1.2 billion) for a heart transplant. Sadly, he passed away before the procedure could be performed.
