Last Updated 28 minutes ago by tnd News, Uganda
The death of Sam Bua Anyuru, eldest son of the late Abdalla Anyuru has died, his younger brother, Gira Robert Anyuru and Hon. Beatrice Lagada (sister), announced on Monday.
She wrote: “Brethren, it is with great sorrow that I inform you of the passing away of our beloved brother, Sam Bua Anyuru, the eldest son of late Abdallah Anyuru, of Oketobilo, Akaka, Aber.
“Sam has been living in France until today, when he departed. May the good Lord hold, strengthen and comfort the family during this very trying time. May his soul find eternal rest with the Father in Paradise.”
The above was followed by an emotional tribute by his brother – Gira. Below are his fairly edited words.
“A Tribute To Sam Bua Anyuru
“My eldest brother, Sam Bua Anyuru breathed his last in a hospital in France, on Sunday 7th June 2026. Sam had a good start to life, thanks to his father, the late Harry Eric Abdalla Anyuru and mother, Margaret Anyuru (RIP). He was a good example to us the younger siblings.
“Our over 40 years apart from each other, didn’t negate the precious fact that I still had this distant entity of a sibling, alive and kicking somewhere.
“Sam was this trendy youth of the 1980s, very much in the league of his Old Boys – public domain trailblazers like former Vision Group CEO Robert Kabushenga, radio presenter Alex Ndaula and media man Timothy Kalyegira. He loved music like these aforementioned Namasagali College former school mates.
“A great dancer he was,under the tutelage of Father Grimes. He taught us dance moves and I recall imitations of Shalamar’s Jeffrey Daniels in the ‘Get Ready’ song act.
“Former President Milton Obote’s son was his school buddy, who often visited our home and regularly parked his ka simple scooter at our Naguru housing estates flats car parking area. Contrast this with today’s over-body guarded first children.
“Artistic is the one word that would best describe Sam Anyuru. His art work varied as they ranged from depictions of dance scenes at his school, Cowboys versus Red Indians renderings, through to caricatures that would make it to any newspaper worth its salt.
“I loved them. He hand printed his own shirts and I vividly recall a black T shirt inscribed with the words,” Call Me Gringo”. Robert Kabushenga often yelled,” Gringo!”, as he made his entrance into door number W 4, which was our crib.
“Life has been harsh for Sam. He was violently assaulted by Field Marshall Idi Amin’s men as they hunted for our father Abdalla Anyuru ( Ref: H.E Abdalla Anyuru: A Biography by Gira Robert Anyuru). Our family has suffered a lot of betrayal over the years. Most hitting were the blows dealt to us by our fellow Langi tribesmen.
“That is a subject of another write up. Sam was traumatized by the experience. One of our uncles, Mr Chris Opio, adduced the element of unresolved recesses in the way Sam often adorned necklaces with pistol insignia.
“By God’s grace, we have learnt to take things in our stride. Media heavyweight Shaka Sali used to say, “Get better, not bitter”. I looked up to Sam to his dying day because I somewhat never outgrew my image of him as we didn’t communicate much. The fact that I never met him again since we bade him farewell at Entebbe Airport in 1983, was telling. He waved at us without making a lot of eye contact.
“As we called out to him from the waving bay, his body language betrayed suppressed tears. He never looked back at us as he climbed up the stairs of the Russian Aeroflot plane. Sam was destined for graduate studies at the University of Kiev Ukraine.
“France was to be his home in the latter years, as he relocated straight from Ukraine. Never to set foot in Africa again. He will be greatly missed. Mr Sam Bua Anyuru played host to many people in France, making many Ugandans feel warm and welcome with his big heart.
“Rest well with your maker, brother.
“Goodbye Gringo.”
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