Farewell ... final serve for Cedric Babu

That imagination or memory, along with side conversations with peers, fans, athletes and officials whether at the tennis courts, rugby fields at the defunct Legends or Kyadondo, pitch side at KCCA FC’s Lugogo or his strides through the corridors of sports power within Lugogo, gripped mourners.

The sports fraternity bade farewell to one of tennis’ icons Babu with a rare yet fitting send-off inside the Lugogo Indoor Arena. 

The event in Lugogo was organized by the government through the National Council of Sports (NCS). Babu died on May 31 after succumbing to a heart attack.

“Allow me to thank Hon. Peter Ogwang agreed to do this event to recognize a true son of the nation,” William Blick, an International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member and friend to Babu, said. 

The occasion was graced by Babu’s friends, his family and relatives, supporters of the Patriotic League of Uganda, sports lovers, his fans, and administrators from an array of sports bodies. 

Sadly, in a week when the French Open in Paris, France, wraps up. Babu loved playing on the clay court, just like at the Roland Garros. His demise and casket laying inside the arc space of the indoor basketball court sent many into tears.

Sports minister Ogwang had his eyes wet for the majority of the time. NCS general secretary Patrick Ogwel was beaten. Blick broke down and lost his verbal stance during his speech.

Therein, it gripped many Babu, who finely held the tennis racket, led the sport, one who struck marketing strides for tennis, basketball, and rugby and more, was no more. 

At the podium littered with grief but controlled by emcee Mark Ssali, Blick was joined by Babu’s friends turned brothers who included former BBC World Service presenter Alan Kasujja, Marcus Kwikiriza, Simon Kaheru, Denis Galabuzi and Max Kanyerezi. Babu studied with the group at St Mary’s College Kisubi (Smack) in the early 90s’.

“I know he is smiling. He would have been very happy to be here today,” a weeping Blick reacted. “Cedric picked up the first ball and whistle and went behind Lourdel House and we were the first school to beat an established club (in rugby). In school, we beat the (Yayiro) Kasasas. Cedric did a lot of tennis,” Blick memoired.

“I remember when he (Captain Francis Babu) came to watch tennis and I remember a very tough dad (Capt. Babu). Cedric was playing a final and he wasn’t doing too well. What Captain did to Cedric, Cedric did to his son. He has gone through a generation of sports. Cedric loved sport. Whenever we met, we talked about sports internationally, we would go watch rugby. 

Babu began playing tennis in the 80s’ and caught the eyes of many through his secondary school life at Smack and made it to the national stage thereafter, playing at six Davis Cup tournaments after returning from the USA in the early 2000s.

Babu then rose into administration of the sport, being at the helm for eight years from 2017 to 2023. He also founded space in the media as well as running marketing campaigns across tennis, basketball and rugby.

“Does everyone remember Friday Night Lights (FNL) basketball? He did rugby, he did tennis. We were about to do football. For me, he was God sent. Capt. Babu, mum Olive Kigongo, you gave Uganda an icon. When Cedric left to go to Rwanda, he was on national duty. Unfortunately he had a heart attack and we are here because of the unfortunate incident and that’s why we are here today honouring Cedric,” Blick said of Babu’s final days.

In between the eulogies, screen videos played memoiring the beautiful life Babu lived. Some of the clips reflected times he shared the court with his son Cillian Asante Ndilima.

Babu suffered the attack when he was watching his son playing tennis in Kigali, Rwanda. Some of his friends spent weeks by his bed side before he passed away.

Other clips had Babu taking selfies, laughing and at times dancing away with friends. There were enough selfie moments with Kasujja, one hugging President Museveni’s son Muhoozi Kainerugaba, in the swimming pool with a friend and cutting cake. That depicted the kind of life he gracefully lived.

And thereon after Blick, tributes followed from NCS and the government. “He was quite all round in sport,” NCS chairman Ambrose Tashobya stated. 

“During my presidency at Fuba (basketball), there are some moments that we experienced as a federation that gave us a boost that profiled the game of basketball and probably that’s when I interacted most with Cedric.”

“At basketball, he came through a partnership that ran a project called Friday Night Lights. He was running a marketing company called Kinetic Management Group. Basketball grew in leaps and bounds because of the marketing Cedric did with his team,” he added.

Babu was team manager while Tashobya was Team Uganda’s chef de mission to the Rio 2016 Olympics in Brazil. Babu’s father Edward Francis Babu spoke with admirable strength.

“I am sorry I didn’t come here to mourn but celebrate the life of Cedric. When he said bye to me in hospital (Nairobi, Kenya), I said yes, I have accepted,” he said.

“Don’t ask me how he died, ask me how he lived. You’ve all come here and told us how Cedric lived. I want to thank you very much. Cedric kept on kicking and crying after he was born. From that time on, Cedric was a sportsman. I now realize Cedric had a mission and he has completed it,” he added, later requesting that his three grandsons should be given scholarships to finish their education.

“If I am to speak about Cedric, sincerely allow me to thank you (Babu’s parents) for giving us an asset in Cedric who didn’t isolate those from such (highly ranked) schools and us who are certified hustlers,” Ogwang began his eulogy. 

“I came to know Cedric through my brother Hon. Ronald Kibuule and Denis Galabuzi. We used to sit at Nanjing in Kololo. It’s us who said to Cedric you can do it (pursue a Parliamentary seat in 2021). Kampala Central missed a very competent leader in Cedric Babu.”

Babu stood for an MP slot on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party ticket and did not succeed. At the time of his death, was a vice-chairman of the PLU party, which leans towards Kainerugaba, with whom they attended school at Smack.

“I am extremely pained when I see the outburst on social media about Cedric. The character of Cedric versus the character of Capt. Babu is the opposite. I never saw Cedric getting angry at anyone. I want to apologize for whatever Cedric did to you,” Ogwang reacted.

“Every time I had a function, Cedric came. He came to Katakwi. God, why Cedric at this particular time? I’ve kept asking this particular question. Why now? Cedric was my personal adviser on matters of sports, I am here by the grace of God.”

Ogwang then got the audience onto their feet when he proposed Babu had to be remembered. “I want us to name one of the facilities here (Lugogo) the Cedric Babu Ndilima. How do we remember Cedric? This place where we are, they have agreed to build the Kampala Arena here,” he said amidst a thunderous handclap.

“I also want the Uganda Tennis Association to organize a tennis competition in memory of Cedric Babu. How do we remember Cedric? It’s pain. We will never let you down,” Ogwang looked at the family and casket.

Babu was laid to rest next to his great grandfather Ndilima in Kamengo, Mpigi on Saturday.

WHAT THEY SAID

Edward Francis Babu, Cedric Babu’s father:

“Don’t ask me how he died, ask me how he lived. You’ve all come here and told us how Cedric lived. I want to thank you very much. Cedric kept on kicking and crying after he was born. From that time on, Cedric was a sportsman. I now realize Cedric had a mission and he has completed it.” 

Beatrice Ayikoru, Uganda Olympic Committee General Secretary:

“He was a very accomplished sports administrator. He was a national tennis player in the 90s’ who represented the country in various associations. As tennis president from 2017-2023, he pushed for scholarships and playing opportunities for the athletes. Thank you Cedric for supporting efforts to overcome the leadership turbulence at UOC in 2012.”

William Blick, IOC Member:

“Capt. Babu, mum Olive Kigongo, you gave Uganda an icon. When Cedric left to go to Rwanda, he was on national duty. Unfortunately he had a heart attack and we are here because of the unfortunate incident and that’s why we are here today honouring Cedric,” Blick said of Babu’s final days. Today we have greater stability in sport. These are things we discussed when we were trying to change sports in Uganda. And many people have benefited from Cedric’s vision.”

Ambrose Tashobya, NCS Chairman:  

“I want to thank Cedric for being firm in ushering sports leadership in the country that they are enjoying. He was quite all round in sport. During my presidency at Fuba (basketball), there are some moments that we experienced as a federation that gave us a boost that profiled the game of basketball and probably that’s when I interacted most with Cedric.”

David Haggerty, International Tennis Federation (ITF) president:

“To the family and friends of Cedric, I was very saddened to learn of Cedric’s death. On behalf of the ITF, Cedric’s passion for tennis was evident. During his leadership at UTA, his vision was instrumental in returning Uganda to regular ITF competitions. It is a testament to the passion he had. He was very competitive, he had enthusiasm and forward thinking. I am sure his family is proud of him. Many of the ITF staff had the pleasure of working with him and we will miss him.” 

John Oduke, Tennis Legend

“He was very generous. He could do anything you wanted him to do for you.” 

Peter Ogwang, Sports Minister

“Every time I had a function, Cedric came. He came to Katakwi. God, why Cedric at this particular time? I’ve kept asking this particular question. Why now? Cedric was my personal adviser on matters of sports, I am here by the grace of God. I want us to name one of the facilities here (Lugogo) after Cedric Babu Ndilima. I also want the Uganda Tennis Association to organize a tennis competition in memory of Cedric Babu.” 

Mark Ssali, NCS Head of Corporate Affairs:

“I was with Cedric in school. I joined SMACK in 1990 and there became his sports minister. Whenever he picked up the racket, he had to go through me. He was two classes below me. A working player, to leading the sport, UOC, consultant for different nations regards sports. That is how long I knew him.”