Kampala, Uganda – The body of celebrated Ugandan comedian Nicholas Mpiirwe, affectionately known as Messe, will arrive in Uganda this Thursday, January 16, 2025, after a month-long effort by family and friends to raise funds for repatriation. Messe passed away on December 12, 2024, in Arizona, USA, due to reported heart failure while pursuing career opportunities abroad.
In a statement shared by his close friend Kapalanga, also residing in the United States, the news of Messe’s homecoming was confirmed:
“We are here to let you know that our brother’s body, Nicholas Mpiirwe, well known as Messe Bontwe, has today, January 14, 2025, left the United States of America. Nicholas’s body will arrive in Uganda on January 16, 2025, and he will be handed over to the Executive Funeral Services and the family.”
A series of tributes and ceremonies will honor Messe’s memory. On Saturday, January 18, his body will lie in state at the National Theatre in Kampala, where fellow artists and fans can pay their last respects. The following day, his remains will be transported to his ancestral home in Rwampara district. Burial is scheduled for Monday, January 20, at 2:00 PM.
Messe was a founding member of the iconic Amarula Family comedy group, alongside Amooti Omubalanguzi and the late Pande Bitama. His career also included stints at Super FM and Dembe FM before he relocated to the United States. His death marks a significant loss to Uganda’s comedy and entertainment fraternity.