Former Gagamel singer Shortkut, real name Allan Massengere, breathed his last on 11th August 2020 after over 40 days battling Tuberculosis of the brain. His uncle Bebe Cool reveals how the deceased contracted COVID-19 while in hospital.
Through a live video shared on Monday evening, Bebe Cool revealed how his journey as Shortkut’s ‘father’ started with the death of his sister (Shortkut’s mother) who died with Shortkut just one and a half months old.
Bebe at 10-years-old then took over as Shortkut’s caretaker and hence why he referred to him as his own son rather than a nephew.
The singer notes how he has always guided Shortkut through life and what they went through together to a point where they separated because the latter had started being disobedient.
Bebe goes ahead to narrate how Shortkut had been suffering with Tuberculosis for several days before he was contacted by his friends who were taking care of Shortkut.
Shortkut and Bebe Cool perform
Shortkut was then put in the ICU for 5 days and then into the general ward for the one and a half months of his final days on earth.
“He stayed in ICU for five days and he came out a bit better. I personally decided to have Shortkut in a general ward than a private room because I felt he should be closer to where many nurses and doctors were and that we should live a normal life like other Ugandans,” reveals Bebe Cool.
“As Shortkut was leaving the ICU, I called KCCA and requested for a COVID test because there had been two deaths of COVID in Nsambya Hospital. I wasn’t so sure about what was happening because too many people were entering the hospital. I asked the doctors at Nsambya if it was okay to have COVID samples taken from my son and the two bedside nurses weekly and they accepted. The first sample was taken and after four days it came back negative. After 4 days in the general ward I called KCCA to return and take another COVID test. It was the last test taken and we expected the results to be back in four days but Shortkut had issues with his breathing. We did all scans and I asked several questions and the doctors explained that TB was the reason why Shortkut was having a problem with the breathing,” Bebe Cool adds.
Bebe reveals that Shortkut somehow got better in the last days. He even showed two videos of Shortkut at his worst and after he regained consciousnesses.
Shortkut, however, got more problems with his breathing on Monday evening and needed to be put back in ICU. Bebe reveals that they wanted to take him to another hospital but they could not admit because they all had “silly” excuses due to their worries about COVID.
Nsambya Hospital ICU had been sprayed and closed because of the two patients who had died because of COVID. You would expect that the nurses would also be quarantined. So, we had no option for ICU until Tuesday morning.
Bebe Cool
“We contacted Victoria Hospital and after submitting the COVID-free certificate, they accepted to admit Shortkut in their ICU and we started making preparations to move him on Wednesday morning. We left Nsambya Hospital and headed to Bukoto. He was on oxygen in the ambulance.”
Bebe critically notes that the ambulance tried to drive through traffic jam but hit the humps before Hideout Bar on Lugogo Bypass towards Kira Road and all the support machines and tubes that had been put on Shortkut fell off. He blames KCCA saying that the humps there are not visible and they had a huge effect on Shortkut’s demise.
He commends the efforts of the doctors at Victoria Hospital because in the shortest time possible, there were over ten doctors attending and trying to revive Shortkut but he was already dead.
Bebe received a call from KCCA on Thursday 20th August while at Shortkut’s vigil informing him that the deceased had contracted COVID-19.
Listen to more of what Bebe Cool had to say below:
Team No Sleep singer Yusuf Ssenabulya alias Roden Y Kabako has flaunted his house in Gombe, Butambala which is still under construction.
The newlywed singer showed off his house which is almost being completed to his followers and fans through his social media page as he revealed how he is revamping his home area and giving it a facelift.
He went ahead to caption the post encouraging the youths to work hard asserting how they will also reap the same from their hard work.
Kabako shared the photos of his home area just two weeks after his introduction and after enjoying his honeymoon with his wife Jazirah Namuddu.
Hard Work Always Pays, No Matter The Challenges… My Home House
In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic that saw the entertainment industry crippled, the world’s most awarded premium vodka, Smirnoff partnered with NTV to give viewers an ultimate dance party experience dubbed the NTV Dance Party.
The show was formed to encourage people to keep up the weekend outgoing spirit, however, this time partying while staying safely at home during the lockdown.
From Lynda Ddane’s dazzling fashion sense to the electrifying music played by Guvnor deejays, Baby Love and Mark Rebel to the energy of presenters Crysto Panda and Esco Mc and the signature Smirnoff cocktail recipes, viewers were taken on an entertainment journey at a time when everything had shut down and the world was a sad and gloomy place, every single Saturday.
NTV Dance party also held a series of fun games like the, ‘dress up to go nowhere,’ where viewers were given an opportunity to dress up in their favorite outfits and chill with friends and family whilst enjoying a Smirnoff. The best dressed viewers won prizes like the Smirnoff starter packs that included a crate of Smirnoff, two bottles of vodka, a bar set up, a mixologist and a DJ delivered at the winner’s doorstep for enjoyment.
As the show celebrates a year of bringing the party to its viewer’s homes this Saturday April 24, the Brand Manager of Smirnoff, Annet Nakigaya, the official sponsor of the ultimate party says that the most Ugandan thing we can all do is keep safe and hang out from home.
“Smirnoff is a brand that recognizes the importance of adapting as things change in society and is committed to doing the right thing and the NTV Dance Party is the perfect choice to stay connected with family, friends while hanging out from home,” said Nakiyaga.
Several artistes are lined up to perform during the show and there are lots of Smirnoff goodies to be won by viewers.
Chipper Cash Country Manager Dan Tumuramye and Faridah Nakazibwe
Nearly three years ago, a US-based Ugandan Ham Serunjogi and a Ghanaian colleague Maijid Moujaled launched a cross-border money transfer platform called Chipper Cash.
To the creators of the platform, the purpose was to ease money transfers by enabling sending and receiving money locally at zero cost, while offering instant settlement and the lowest cross-boarder rates.
The duo wanted to create a feasible solution to the blocks associated with exchanging money especially in Africa and the app has since been launched in Nigeria, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa as well as Uganda.
And on Wednesday, April 21, the largest mobile cross-border money transfer platform on the continent unveiled NTV News Anchor Faridah Nakazibwe as a brand influencer.
Faridah Nakazibwe signing the contract
“I’m honoured to be working with Chipper Cash. I have worked with a number of brands and one thing known about me is that I’m a natural influencer and I’m happy to bring on board what I know to Chipper Cash,” Nakazibwe said.
Last week, Chipper Cash was launched in the United Kingdom and now people in the UK can send money back to Uganda and get 15% instant cashback for the sender and 5% for the receiver. Each Ugandan who downloads the app and shares their referral link to a person in the UK (friend or family) gets UGX50,000 as a referral bonus when the UK person downloads the app, verifies their account, and sends £20 to any Chipper Cash user in Uganda.
Dan Tumuramye, Chipper Cash Country Manager
Dan Tumuramye, the Country Manager of Chipper Cash, says Nakazibwe fits the credentials of a brand influencer they needed.
“We wanted to bring on a TV/Media personality on board. We feel Faridah is a right fit for our target market,” said Tumuramye.
