Cedric Babu Ndilima has died in Nairobi due to heart complications at the age of 46.
The former national tennis champion and long-serving President of the Uganda Tennis Association (UTA) died days after being airlifted from Kigali, Rwanda, where he collapsed during a tennis tournament earlier this month.
A man of many hats, Cedric Babu was not only a household name in Ugandan sport, but also a respected media personality, entrepreneur, and political figure.
He was born to veteran politician Captain Francis Babu and Olive Zaitun Kigongo, the long-time head of the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Babu’s sporting journey began on the tennis court, where he rose to become a national champion and went on to represent Uganda in the prestigious Davis Cup.
He later captained the national team before transitioning into administration.
From 2012 to 2022, he served as the President of the Uganda Tennis Association, leading efforts to revitalize grassroots tennis and restore Uganda’s presence on the international tennis stage.
His tenure was marked by a renewed focus on youth development and international collaboration. He was succeeded by the current UTA president, Matthias Nalyanya.
Earlier this month, Cedric was in Kigali accompanying his son, Cillian Asante Ndilima, to a tennis event when he collapsed and was rushed to Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi.
There, he was diagnosed with severe heart failure and advised to undergo an urgent heart transplant.
The life-saving operation could only be performed abroad, prompting a fundraising campaign that sought to raise over Shs1.5 billion (£300,000) to cover his medical evacuation and treatment.
Unfortunately, his condition deteriorated before the transplant could take place.
Beyond the courts, Cedric Babu left an indelible mark on Uganda’s media and entertainment industry.
He first gained public attention in the early 2000s as a charismatic television presenter, whose commanding screen presence made him a familiar face in Ugandan households.
His creative talents extended into acting, notably in the role of Mr. Stephen Amaru in the popular local drama series Beneath the Lies, which cemented his popularity among Kampala’s urban youth.
In 2010, he founded the Kinetic Management Group (KMG), one of Uganda’s pioneering talent management firms.
In the political arena, Babu ran for a parliamentary seat in Kampala Central during the 2021 general elections under the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
Though unsuccessful, his campaign focused on youth empowerment, civic engagement, and the promotion of creative industries.
He later became associated with the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), where he served as Vice Chairman for Kampala.
Friends and colleagues remember Cedric as a visionary with an infectious energy, deeply committed to youth empowerment and national transformation. Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.
