By Spy Uganda
FortPortal: Fallen seasoned journalist Francis Mutazindwa, who previously worked with #Vision Group, #RedPepper and several other media companies, is to be laid to rest at his ancestral home in Fort Portal, western Uganda, according to family members.
Mutazindwa, who nurtured and mentored several journalists in town prior to his demise, passed away at a health facility in Kampala on Saturday night, after losing a battle to pneumonia.
As preparations for his last sendoff continue several people in Uganda’s media fraternity and others who had encountered or worked with Mutazindwa during their careers continue to pour in their grief.
Renowned city lawyer and counsel to Pepper Publications Ltd, Dennis Nyombi of Nyombi & Co.Advocates eulogized late Mutazindwa as a man of many ‘lives’, he wrote thus on social media;
“A tribute to my dear friend, Mutazindwa Francis.
Unlike most advocates who started step one of their legal careers in law firms, I started my legal career as a legal editor in a media house.
I met a team of young men and women who were gifted, hard working and so passionate with their work. They had a common factor- very easy with life. Arguably, you would think they are born of the same mum n Dad.
It’s that ease with which they did their day to day seemingly easy but rather hard assignments that propelled their drive to good results and on the other hand, that breed their excitement in publications leading to dramatic legal battles.
In search for an index that would give me a clear understanding of a journalist’s life, and how journalists get to be, I met a humble, soft spoken, tall slender gentleman.
His voice varied with the weight of the point he was bringing across. His tenor was deep most times.
He often drove in, early. Donned on his sky blue jeans and a striped shirt. With a green coat that he carefully placed behind his driver’s seat, as soon as he parked in his usual slot, in his signature Toyota Land Cruisers that would only vary in number plates from UAM to UAK, with black being specific of his color’s choice, Mutazindwa Francis entered the newsroom and strolled slowly to his big table where myself and him shared a cubicle.
Our bond started to build slowly. He talked to me as his son. Like a father he was so much concerned whether am fine. We shared so much in talk and gave me life’s stories. A case in point one night about 9pm, while waiting for what was called the lead story, I played some old Kenyan song “Kasongo” off my laptop. He told me he loved that song so much that it reminded him of some uncle who was in love with some gal and wherever she was coming to visit him, the uncle danced to that song.
I have been left now with that song’s memory. It will always remind me of Mutaz, wherever I listen to it.
Wherever we were through with work, he drove me up to my place of residence. Upon reaching home, he would send me a text. Confirming how he has reached well.
He took me through key features of journalism. But at most, through the aspects of life as a young man.
He shared with me his stories as a young man who had just left University.
We laughed , we debated , we shared tea, chapats, bread, food etc and all sorts of stories. Wherever I got a small outside deal, we shared the fruits and he often told me, ” Kati ogenda kukimansila?” meaning, have we got something to eat?
Even when he stepped out of the media house we kept in touch. So much that when the wife- Molly passed on, He instructed me to align the estate.
At my graduation party, Francis appeared and gave me words of love, courage and inspiration.
Just this May, Francis was silent. I sent him a text, asking about him. He told me he was in hospital. I had planned to drive to Mbarara to see him. Only to see social media stories of “RIP.”
Mutazindwa Francis, a man in whose symbolic shadow, I know many young journalists walk. A friend whose shoulder was big enough to hold all of us. A father whose passion to his two children Isaac and Isabella whom I have talked to this morning, was unmeasured. Has walked his walk, and played his part.
Rest In Peace my Friend in you I met a father figure”, Denis Nyombi posted.
Other messages eulogizing Mutazindwa are here below;
Rest in perfect peace dear Mutazindwa.
