The former Uganda Cranes doctor was a man who lived a life that appeared to have passed the test of time. Born February 18, 1954, Sekajugo was the twelveth of thirteen children born by Joseph Lule and Magdalena Namaalwa, both deceased. To understand what an endearing figure he was, Sekajugo’s middle name was ‘Mary’, possibly to suggest his meekness, as that of the Lord’s mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary.
He was born in an ardent Catholic home in Kaliisizo, Masaka, where he was laid to rest yesterday, after a life of great service to particularly Ugandan sport. He was involved with the national boxing team, the Bombers, and the national cricket team as well.
But that was after many years serving as The Cranes (national football team doctor). He also headed the Uganda Badminton Association, and was also involved with the Africa badminton body, before becoming an ardent golfer. He was a prominent member of Uganda Golf Club, and was a solid Group B handicap.
Internationally, he was a member of the CAF and Fifa medical committees. He had also been elevated to senior roles in the World Anti-Doping Agency. Former Uganda Sports Press Association president Jim Mugunga was a friend of Sekajugo.
Mugunga said: “Beyond being a medical doctor, he was also an ardent sports administrator who specialized in managing those who superintended over the sector.”
Justine Ligyalingi, the International Cricket Council Africa development officer and former Uganda Cricket Association CEO, said, “He was a fine gentleman who was always smart, and loved to serve sports. That naturally explains the various roles he held in the subsector.”
It is said that Sekajugo passed on in his bathroom on December 21 last year. He lived on his own in his house in Bugolobi. Given his routinely busy schedule in and out of the country, those known to him had assumed that he was possibly out of Uganda on his work trips.
But an alarm was raised once his mobile phone was not going through. He was also not responding to emails which was not typical of him. According to reports, it was last Friday that his house was broken into after a smell, which was later found to be of his decomposing body, intensified for his neighbours.
But fond memories of Sekajugo remain among those who studied with him at St Peter’s primary school, Nsambya between 1960 and 1966. Thereafter, the bright, humorous, and sociable Sekajugo studied at Namilyango College between 1967 and 1972 for both his O-Levels and A-Levels.
While there, he played rugby, a bit of boxing, and also loved band music alongside famous guitarist, Frank Mbalire, who has been a member of the Afrigo band before. Sekajugo joined Makerere University in 1973, to pursue a degree in medicine. He resided in Northcorte hall, now Nsibirwa.
But while there, Sekajugo also had time to play lawn tennis. He also continued his passion for band music, where he played drums and the bass guitar alongside famous performer Dede Majoro (RIP). Long time educationist, former King’s College Budo head teacher, George Ssemivule also played the bass guitar in the same band with Sekajugo.
Upon graduation in 1978, Sekajugo’s cohorts included former government minister, Dr Crispus Kiyonga, among others. In fact, in one of his initial deployments, Sekajugo worked at the Uganda Cancer Institute, before travelling to England in 1981, where he joined the Liverpool Sports and Exercise medicine school. It is here that he started playing golf and squash.
Notably, Sekajugo will be most remembered for heading Fufa’s Normalization committee back in 2005, following his appointment by Fifa. But he will also be remembered for being a supportive friend, a principled man, and stickler for time.
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