The Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has described the late Cedric Babu as a loyal and reliable friend who could be trusted in whatever circumstances.
The General who was accompanied by his wife Charlotte Kainerugaba, was speaking at Cedric’s burial in Kamengo, Mpigi District. “Cedric was a loyal friend. You could count on him in any situation,” said the CDF, who noted that he had known him since childhood.
According to Gen Kainerugaba, they met in Nairobi in the 1980s while in exile. They separated when he went to live in Sweden and reconnected at St. Mary’s College Kisubi in 1988. “We became great, great friends,” said the General, who is also the Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations.
He described Cedric as a talented sportsman who loved playing tennis. “He was a very popular tennis player,” he said. The CDF said when he learnt that Cedric had developed heart complications, he was confident that he would recover. “But God had other plans, and we’ve lost Cedric,” he said.
Cedric was hospitalised with heart failure after collapsing in Kigali, where he had accompanied his son for a tennis tournament.
Gen Kainerugaba said Cedric had visited him at his home in Entebbe a few days before he went to Kigali.
He said that they had not met privately for a while to have such a long chat, though they would meet at public events. “We talked about life. We talked about family. He told me his plans for the future,” he said.
The CDF noted that Cedric was already making plans to contribute to the country’s development through active involvement in politics. “Cedric was a patriot. He loved Uganda and was willing to sacrifice a lot for his country,” he said.
He noted that despite coming from an elite family where children rarely participate in politics, Cedric was active. He was a leader in the Patriotic League of Uganda and also ran for Kampala Central Member of Parliament in the 2021 elections.
He assured that, as Cedric’s friends, they will continue to engage with his children because they owe him that. He thanked Cedric’s father, Francis Babu, and mother, Olive Kigongo, for everything they did for their son while he was hospitalised.
Friends and relatives eulogized Cedric as a loving and caring person who will be greatly missed. His funeral was attended by former and current national leaders. Cedric Babu is survived by his wife, and three sons.