Respiratory problems led to Belinda’s death
Nakayima (second left) featuring for KCCA Leopards against A-1 Challenge last season. She trained on Tuesday but was found dead in her bed on Thursday morning. PHOTO BY ISMAIL KEZAALA
What you need to know:
Tribute. The KCCA Leopards player died in her sleep on Thursday and was laid to rest at Kiwenda, Zirobwe, Gayaza in Wakiso district.
KAMPALA. An accumulation of fluid in the lungs led to the abrupt death of Maria Belinda Nakayima last week, a doctor told mourners yesterday.
“We found that there was lot of water in her lungs,” Dr George Kasirye from May Medical Centre said during a funeral service held in her honour at St Stephen’s Church, Kawempe.
Not much more information was revealed. The KCCA Leopards player died in her sleep on Thursday and was laid to rest at Kiwenda, Zirobwe, Gayaza in Wakiso district yesterday.
Silence and tears filled the church as the bereaved family, friends and the basketball fraternity paid their last respects to the small forward, who trained with her teammates on Tuesday. Her mother, Claire Nabbosa Nazziwa, spoke highly of her daughter as one she cherished. “I don’t know what to say but there is no bigger shock. Rest In Peace Maria,” the weeping mother said.
Most mourners were reduced to weighty faces when the boyfriend, Colin Male Kala, spoke of how far they had come with reports that the two were to walk down the aisle in December.
“She loved me when I had nothing and she has died when I have started getting some money,” said the Lands Ministry employee.
His family praised her too as “having her not wed Colin as an opportunity missed”.
Kala’s family contributed Shs12.3m towards the funeral arrangements while her work colleagues from Perfect Events described her as “a sister”.
The basketball fraternity, led by Fuba president, Ambrose Tashobya, KCCA teammates, management, and her coach Timothy Odeke attended the service and burial later in the day after a light drizzle.
Some wore black t-shirts that bore her picture at the front, her name at the back with the shirt No. 18, she wore at KCCA, just below. A ball was signed in her memory.
Belinda Factfile
Maria Belinda Nakayima
Born: February 28, 1990
Died: July 17, 2015
EDUCATION
Kampala Kindergarten, Nakasero
Nakayima went to Aga Khan and Kabojja Junior
East High, Kabojja and Vienna College were her secondary schools
Nakayima then attended Multi-Tech Business School
She worked with Just In Case Uganda and Perfect Events
