Zari Hassan has defended her family’s account of Ivan Semwanga’s death.
Zari Hassan defends her family’s account of Ivan Semwanga’s death as journalist Simon Kaggwa Njala seeks documentary evidence.
Ugandan socialite and businesswoman Zari Hassan has challenged critics fuelling the Semwanga death debate to focus on national issues. Her response follows renewed questions from journalist Simon Kaggwa Njala about her former husband’s death in South Africa.
In Instagram Stories posted on October 29, 2026, Zari criticised those revisiting the case nearly a decade later. She urged Ugandans to direct their energy towards overthrowing a government they claim to oppose, rather than discussing Semwanga’s death.
Semwanga death debate draws family response
Njala described the businessman’s death as among the most mysterious cases he had encountered. He questioned whether Semwanga had entered Steve Biko Hospital in Pretoria, where he reportedly received treatment before dying.
He also raised concerns about the absence of a publicly available postmortem report. However, Njala maintained that he wanted documentary evidence and was asking questions rather than offering a definitive conclusion.
Zari, meanwhile, defended the family’s account, saying relatives personally confirmed the death and arranged to return his remains to Uganda. She said they closed the body bag and handled the paperwork for repatriation.
She also challenged the expectation that a hospital would disclose confidential medical information in response to telephone inquiries.
Zari details postmortem and burial preparations
Zari said a postmortem examination took place in Uganda after the family brought Semwanga’s body home. She added that their three sons helped wash their father’s body in keeping with Buganda cultural traditions.
Semwanga died on May 25, 2017, aged 39, after reportedly suffering a stroke in South Africa. He was a prominent businessman and socialite associated with Uganda’s flamboyant Rich Gang group.
His relationship with Zari also attracted considerable public attention. The former couple shared three sons: Pinto, Quincy and Raphael.
Beyond his family life, Semwanga drew attention through his lavish lifestyle and business ventures. His high-profile burial further made him one of Uganda’s most talked-about personalities.
