Socialite and businesswoman Zari Hassan has criticised journalist Simon Kagwa Njala over suggestions that her late ex-husband, businessman Ivan Semwanga, could still be alive.
Speaking in an interview with a local television station, Zari dismissed the claims, insisting that Semwanga died in South Africa and that his remains were transported back to Uganda for burial.
She questioned why Njala was revisiting the circumstances surrounding Semwanga’s death and challenged his account of allegedly contacting a South African hospital for information.
“I found out that when you are really idle and poor, you start imagining things that don’t exist. Misery loves company. He says he contacted the hospital in South Africa and asked for records as who? Hospitals here are professional. You cannot just randomly call and ask for medical reports, and they release them. There are patient-hospital confidentiality policies,” Zari said.
The businesswoman maintained that the family had confirmed Semwanga’s death and completed the necessary procedures to bring his remains back to Uganda.
She also said a postmortem examination was conducted in Uganda and that his sons participated in preparing his body in accordance with Buganda cultural traditions.
“We, the bereaved, know that he died; we confirmed, zipped up the body bag, and worked on the paperwork to return his remains to Uganda. Even in Uganda, they did a postmortem report, and his own sons cleaned his body as per the cultural tradition. So, old man, what is your concern here?” she added.