Tooro tycoon dies in car accident
The late Crescent Baguma
What you need to know:
Rip. According to police, Baguma’s driver tried to avoid a head-on collision with another car around Kyegegwa Town and the car swerved off the road.
Kabarole. Tooro tycoon and one of Tooro’s wealthiest men, Crescent Baguma, is dead. Baguma died in a motor accident on Fort Portal-Mubende highway on Thursday night.
Rwenzori Region police spokesperson Bashir Bakari Mugah said Baguma died on the spot near Kyegegwa Town after his vehicle veered off the road at about 10.30pm. He was travelling with another unidentified person, who also died on the spot.
“The driver was trying to overtake but found another oncoming car near Kyegegwa and tried to avoid a head-on collision before the car swerved off the road,” said Mr Bakari.
Bakari said the cause of the accident was high speed and Baguma’s vehicle, a Prado Land Cruiser, had three occupants.
The third person was admitted in hospital in a critical condition.
According to Baguma’s father Charles Kalenzi Acaali, the deceased was rushing to Kampala for a business appointment.
Mr Stephen Baala Mugabo, a neighbour to Baguma, said the deceased was reputed for “creating networks of business for people in Tooro sub-region.”
Mr Chrisent Mugume of Rutete Sub-county described Baguma as “a hero of Tooro” because he represented Tooro at national and international business level.
Details about his burial were not readily ascertained by press time yesterday.
Who was Baguma?
Baguma was a resident of Burungu village, Karambi Sub-county in Kabarole District. The deceased owned construction and real estate businesses in Kampala and commercial buildings in Fort Portal Town. In Tooro, he owned farms in Mugusu Sub-county and a commercial building at Mpanga Market, which houses MTN offices.
Baguma was ranked Number 19 in “2013 list of wealthiest people in Uganda,” according to Wikipeadea. He is also known to have hosted the fallen Libyan leader Col Muamur Gaddafi when he last visited Uganda and Tooro Kingdom.
