City comedian Paddy Bitama was yesterday finally laid to rest at his father’s home along Masaka road. The burial was delayed by a week following family wrangles that emerged after a one Kasozi Njegula claimed the deceased was his son. Peter Kasozi Njegula was, however, later confirmed as the biological father of Paddy Bitama after DNA tests were carried out.
The former presidential aspirant who died on January 11th, 2014 at Mulago Cancer Institute of skin cancer was sent off by family, friends, comedy fans and fellow Amarula Family actors who could not hold back tears as they paid their last respects to their fallen comedy hero.
Bitama was one of the founders of the Amarula Comedy outfit. He started out as an MC at the then popular DV 8bar, teamed up with Messe aka Bontwe and Amooti Omubaranguzi to form a comedy group ‘Amarula family’ and the three also worked together at Dembe FM. He had been expected to make an appearance at the ‘Akabadi ko Mwaka’ that takes place at the end of each year but wasn’t able to appear for 2013 due to his health status.
Bitama was an activist member of the 4GC (For God and My Country) that replaced A4C (Actions for Change) and was planning to contest for member of parliament in Kyadondo North come 2016.
Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago was among some of the people who sent in their condolences; “Kitalo nyo ekya muzzuku wa Mugema Paddy Ssali aka Bitama. May your soul rest in eternal peace.”
“[katogoaward]”