Ugandan Dies While At Work, $8,000 Raised to Repatriate Body
By Eva Nabawanuka Mukasa, Ajabu Africa News, posted July 15

WALTHAM, Mass_The Ugandan community in Boston has lost one of their member and a sociable gentleman. James Matovu, 47, died while on duty at his work-place at Framingham on July 15, 2010.

Authorities have not yet established the real cause of death but unconfirmed reports said Matovu might have died as a result of an asthma attack.

“There is no clear medical report on Matovu's death but it is suspected that he may have had an asthma attack which could have contributed to failure to breath hence death,” a source said.

A friend of the deceased, Mr. James Sserumaga told Ajabu Africa News that Matovu came to the US in 1987. He is the only child of the late Nathan Matovu and Mrs. Nasejje Matovu.

Sserumaga said that according to the police report, Matovu woke up in the morning as usual to do his daily activities as a nursing assistant. “He was told to go back and rest because his client was not ready to get out of bed at that time.”

The report adds that Matovu went back to where he sleeps so as to wait until when the client would be ready to take a shower and have breakfast. Minutes later, Matovu was found dead.

Ugandans in Boston, Mass. are organizing a memorial service for the late Matovu. They have so far collected $8,000 which was needed to repatriate the body back to Uganda.

In a prayer service to fundraise for funds needed to return Matovu's body, which was held at the American Legion Church in Waltham, Massachusetts, the chairman of the organizing committee, Mr. Serumaga said he was one the first people to hear of the untimely death.

The late James Matovu of Ugandan Community in Boston

"I was one of the first people to get a call from a friend that James has passed away. I was told late in the night that his body was being transferred to the mortuary,” he said.

Serumaga told mourners that Matovu has been an exemplary person, trustworthy and kind to whoever approached him.
 
Pastor Samuel Mutyaba of New Life International Church who spearheaded the fundraising drive called all Ugandans in the Diaspora to unite and take advantage of a new insurance plan scheme, where people can at least $120 dollars per year, which eventually can help transport bodies of their loved ones back home.

"As Ugandans here, we should come up with an insurance scheme that can help us save for the future return of our bodies in case we die here. This plan can also lift the burden of fundraising every time someone passes away.”

He added that as Ugandans, “We should work together as a team and stop criticizing the each other, through prayers, forgiveness and turning to the lord our God.”

Pastor Katende of the Global Evangelical church in Burlington told mourners that every one will have to die but they all need to prepare and surrender themselves to God, the almighty.

Other pastors who attended included Pastor Benon Kawaala, Pastor Charles Majweega, Pastor Frank Mwebesa, Pastor Mutegyeki Kenneth of Anointed Worship Center and Rev. Christine Nakyeejwe of St. Peters Church in Waltham.

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