The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has paid tribute to Cedric Babu, describing him as a loyal and dependable friend who could be trusted in any situation.
Speaking at Cedric’s burial in Kamengo, Mpigi District, where he was accompanied by his wife Charlotte, Gen Kainerugaba reflected on their decades-long friendship.
“Cedric was a loyal friend. You could count on him in any circumstance,” the CDF said, adding that their friendship dated back to childhood.
The two first met in Nairobi in the 1980s while living in exile. They later reconnected in 1988 at St. Mary’s College Kisubi after Gen Kainerugaba returned from Sweden.
“We became great, great friends,” he said. “He was a talented sportsman who loved playing tennis. Cedric was a very popular tennis player.”
The General expressed his shock at Cedric’s passing, saying he had been optimistic about his recovery after learning of his heart complications.
“But God had other plans, and we’ve lost Cedric,” he said somberly.
Cedric collapsed in Kigali, where he had travelled with his son for a tennis tournament, and was later hospitalised with heart failure.
Gen Kainerugaba recalled that Cedric had visited him at his home in Entebbe shortly before leaving for Kigali.
“We hadn’t had a private moment like that in a long time. We talked about life, family, and his plans for the future,” he shared.
He revealed that Cedric was preparing to take a more active role in national development through politics.
“Cedric was a patriot. He loved Uganda and was willing to sacrifice a lot for his country,” the CDF said.
Despite coming from an elite family where political engagement is rare, Cedric stood out. He was a leader in the Patriotic League of Uganda and contested for the Kampala Central parliamentary seat in the 2021 elections.
Gen Kainerugaba pledged continued support for Cedric’s children, saying it was a duty they owed to their late friend.
He also extended heartfelt thanks to Cedric’s parents, Francis Babu and Olive Kigongo, for their unwavering care during his illness.
Friends and relatives eulogised Cedric as a loving and compassionate individual whose absence will be deeply felt.
