Mark Makumbi : Sobbing friends, workmates and relatives remembered him as funny, friendly, comic and motor-mouthed.

That was Mark Augustine Makumbi, a radio presenter at Central Broadcasting Services (CBS) FM for the last five years, who passed on last Friday at Mulago hospital after succumbing to cancer.

With his remarkable voice, Makumbi touched many people through his comic sports commentary and presentation on radio and special (Kadongokamu) musical lyrics on stage performances during concerts.

Different eulogies from mourners highlighted the fact that Makumbi, who was 38, died at his would-be most productive stage of life. Makumbi was a jack of all trades, but he largely stood out as a sports presenter.

Starting back at Christian radio, Sapientia FM back in 2003, he captured the imagination of many listeners for his authoritative knowledge of football. It was a result of his sports insight that CBS FM hired him.

RARE BREED

For the manager of programming at CBS FM, Abbey Mukiibi, Makumbi was every positive word one would think of.

“He was a rare breed. Very smart – both in the head and in appearance – creative, innovative, down to earth, cooperative…he was everything good,” Mukiibi said on Saturday.

But Mukiibi will most especially miss the workaholic and ambitious employee that was Makumbi. He says that Makumbi would fill in for anyone at work and would do a thorough job.

“You would just tell him so and so is not around; and he would say let me do it. And he was thorough. He was a guy who would discuss a sporting disciplines, kadongokamu and politics with ease. People like him are hard to find,” Mukiibi said of Makumbi, who was known as soldier by his workmates for his willingness to be deployed anywhere.

Even when he was diagnosed with cancer five years ago, Mukiibi says Makumbi continued with his work and believed he would make it, until July last year when the situation worsened.

“The doctors had told us that he would live for two months but it was a miracle that he lived for five more,” Mukiibi said.
“But all we can do is to celebrate his life and character. He can be a good example to young men.

At CBS, Makumbi, described as a hard working individual by workmates and friends, rose through the ranks to become head of the station’s sport desk. He held the post until his death.

He commanded a huge following on air because of his unmatched live football commentary on Europeanfootball.

MANY TALENTS

From the age of 15, he joined the Matendo band before teaming up with the kadongokamu star singers such as Mathias Walukagga and Fred Ssebbaale in a music group called Vision Heroes. That uplifted his knowledge in kadongokamu music, of which he became an avid critic.

The passion for it also saw him do a music show every Sunday morning on CBS FM with co-worker, Hadija Kinobe. In the afternoons, he did a separate show on Bukedde TV, which in many ways reinvigorated this type of music at a time many felt its popularity had subsided.

Makumbi is popularly remembered for his songs Lovinsa and Endaga Butonde, the latter being a theme song urging parents to carry out DNA tests on their children.

He is survived by two children and a legacy that was just beginning to take off. David Lumasi, his workmate at CBS FM since 2008, remembers Makumbi as versatile and hardworking.

“He has been a firm believer in himself as a singer, sports presenter and mechanic,” Lumansi recollects.

Renowned local movie and songwriter, Mariam Ndagire wrote on her Facebook page that the entertainment industry has lost a valuable person in Makumbi.

“I have lost a great fan. Mark Makumbi constantly reminded me of his admiration for my work; I never took that for granted. I always adored his work on CBS; he loved and respected what he did,” she said in her post on Friday.

Walukagga said Makumbi was creative and open-minded person who always wanted to learn more.

“He was one of those kadongokamu singers who did not get deserved recognition,” Walukagga noted.

He went to Ssumbwe Primary School on Mityana road, Wakiso SSS, and Malcom X Academy Katwe from where he finished Senior Four.  He joined Christian High School, Namasuba for A-Level.

He studied journalism at UMCAT but his first job was in welding, as he searched for formal employment. Makumbi, born in December 1978, was laid to rest on Saturday at Ssumbwe in Bulenga.