By H.E. Ambassador Moses Kizige, Uganda’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation

I joined Namasagali College for Senior One on Friday, February 11, 1977, and was allocated to Soroti II Dormitory. Little did I know that this would mark the beginning of a friendship that would last nearly half a century and profoundly influence my life.

At the time, I joined several other students who were already in Senior Two and Senior Three. I was assigned a double-decker bed, which I shared with Edward Naika, popularly known as Nyungu. The bed immediately next to ours was occupied by Julius Izimba, affectionately known as Carlos.

The three of us became friends almost immediately.

Before leaving home, my father had advised me that one of the easiest ways to make friends at boarding school was through storytelling. I took his advice seriously.

Both Edward and Julius had grown up in urban environments, while I came from a humble rural background. They found my stories about village life extremely interesting, and through those conversations, a strong friendship was born.

However, it was an incident barely two weeks after my arrival that revealed the true character of Julius and cemented our brotherhood.

On the night of Friday, February 25, 1977, a Senior Two student approached me intending to strike me with a towel in which he had rolled a bar of soap.

Had that blow landed on my head, my life might have taken a completely different course.

Fortunately, Julius witnessed what was about to happen. Without hesitation, he intervened, restrained the attacker, wrestled him to the ground and demanded to know why he wanted to harm me.

Edward quickly joined him, and together they overpowered and thoroughly beat up the boy.

That intervention may well have saved my life.

The danger was not imaginary. The previous year, in 1976, another student had reportedly been attacked in a similar manner and suffered mental challenges that persisted thereafter.

I understood that I had been targeted because I was older than some of the students in my class, having started school later.

What made Julius’s intervention particularly remarkable was the difference in our family backgrounds.

I was the son of a humble primary school teacher, while Julius was the son of Mr. Samuel Muwumba, then the General Manager of one of Uganda’s largest commercial banks.

Yet Julius never allowed our different backgrounds to define our relationship. He treated me as an equal, a friend and, above all, a brother.

Together with Edward, he stood up for me at a moment when I was vulnerable and needed protection.

I have never forgotten that act of courage, kindness and genuine friendship.

Over the following two years, our bond grew stronger. We shared stories, laughter, experiences and a common passion for football.

We initially played together on the Soroti II Dormitory football team before eventually graduating to the Namasagali College senior team.

Julius was our undisputed number nine, the centre forward. He was a gifted footballer who commanded his position with confidence.

I, on the other hand, struggled to secure a regular place in the starting lineup. Nevertheless, our love for the game strengthened our friendship.

Our paths continued to cross when we joined Makerere University.

Julius was a resident of Livingstone Hall, while I belonged to the great Lumumba Hall.

Besides football, I was also a good athlete, particularly in the 100-metre and 400-metre races.

In December 1983, Julius and I were among the students selected to represent Makerere University at the Eastern, Central and Southern African University Games in Ndola, Zambia.

We were part of a team that included Dr. Abner Tagoola, Joel Kyaguba, Charles Walube and Musa Buyinza, among others.

Those were memorable days of youthful ambition, sporting excellence and enduring friendship.

Earlier, in October 1983, I had joined Julius and our friend David Mutagaya, now deceased, in the Department of Commerce under Makerere University’s Faculty of Social Sciences.

The only other Namasagali College old student in the department at the time was Muhammed Mpaata, another footballer who had previously served as Catering Minister at the college.

When the time came to elect the executive committee of the Makerere University Commerce Association (MUCA), Julius once again demonstrated his confidence in me.

He nominated me for the position of Treasurer.

The presiding officer, Professor Juma Waiswa Balunywa, quickly closed the nominations, and I was elected unopposed.

That is how I became Treasurer of MUCA during my very first month at Makerere University.

Looking back, I recognise how much Julius contributed to my personal growth. He believed in me, defended me, encouraged me and opened doors of opportunity through his friendship.

As the years passed, our lives took different directions, but the bond established at Namasagali College never weakened.

With the advancement of information technology and the emergence of social media, we reorganised ourselves as former members of the Soroti II Dormitory team of 1975–1978.

We adopted the name “ABASHEPEMBE.”

To this day, I cannot explain exactly why we chose that name. What I know is that the Bashepembe became much more than a group of former schoolmates.

It became a family, a brotherhood and a place where we found peace, happiness, comfort and a deep sense of belonging.

Our spouses know who the Bashepembe are. Our children know them too.

What began as friendships among young boys at Namasagali College developed into lifelong relationships that have endured for nearly 50 years.

Just two days before I wrote this tribute, on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, Julius was still active in our WhatsApp group, sending birthday greetings to our brother Jonathan Wekiya, popularly known as Sip.

Who could have imagined that such an ordinary expression of friendship would become one of our last memories of him?

Today, I find myself struggling to accept that Julius Izimba, our beloved Carlos, is no longer with us.

I have lost much more than a former schoolmate.

I have lost a true friend, a brother, a teammate, a confidant and someone who stood by me during some of the most defining moments of my life.

Julius was part of my journey from a humble rural upbringing to the person I eventually became.

His friendship taught me that true brotherhood is not determined by wealth, family background or social standing. It is demonstrated through loyalty, courage, kindness and the willingness to stand by one another.

As we mourn Julius, I also remember his late father, Mr. Samuel Muwumba, who played an important role in shaping my political outlook.

I was introduced to Mr. Muwumba through Hon. Daudi Mpabulungi Migereko. Through that relationship, I benefited from his guidance and political mentorship.

Julius now goes to join his father in eternal rest.

The passing of Carlos therefore brings back memories not only of our school and university years, but also of a family whose influence left a lasting impression on my life.

To my fellow Bashepembe, I say: Be strong. Let us remain united.

We have travelled a long journey together. We have shared the joys of youth, the challenges of adulthood, family experiences, professional achievements and the inevitable trials of life.

Now, we must face the painful reality of losing one of our own.

But even in our grief, let us find comfort in the beautiful memories we created together.

Let us celebrate Julius’s life, his courage, his friendship, his generosity and the brotherhood he helped nurture.

Let us preserve the unity of the Bashepembe, for that is one of the greatest tributes we can pay to his memory.

My dear Carlos, I will never forget that February night in 1977 when you stood between me and danger.

I will never forget our days in Soroti II Dormitory, our football matches, our university experiences and the many years of friendship that followed.

You were there at the beginning of an important chapter of my life, and your contribution to my journey will forever remain part of my story.

Although death has separated us physically, it cannot erase nearly five decades of friendship, shared memories and brotherhood.

You may have departed from this world, but you will forever remain in our hearts.

Farewell, Carlos. Farewell, my friend. Farewell, my brother.

May the Almighty God grant you eternal rest, and may perpetual light shine upon you.

To all the Bashepembe, let us remain strong, united and faithful to the brotherhood that Julius cherished so dearly.

H.E. Ambassador Moses Kizige
Uganda’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation
Moscow, Russia
November 13, 2026