Who was Ivan Semwanga?
Socialite to be laid to rest today
Fallen showbiz star and tycoon, Ivan Semwanga’s ex wife Zari Hassan has pledged to take care of the couple’s three sons.
Speaking to the fully attended funeral service at Namirembe Cathedral yesterday, Zari said; church is full now but I know three months down the road, I’ll be by myself”.
She revealed that she is strong and ready to raise their boys. “Ivan lived his life to the fullest and he always told me life is short,” Zari said.
Ivan who died of May 25th , 2017 at Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria South Africa will be laid to rest today at Nakaliro, Kayunga District.
The splashy socialite leaves behind 3 sons Pinto, Raphael Junior and Quincy whom he bore Zarfi Hassan before they separated and she moved on with Tanzanian star singer Diamond Platnumz
Who was Ivan Semwanga?
Ivan Semwanga changed the face of Ugandan Showbiz and social scene by introducing splashy parties which he hosted in top hangouts in Kampala.
Together with his friends and ex wife Zari Hassan, the group would pop champagne like Hollywood stars and would also throw money to revelers.
Driving around in posh personalized number plates cars, Ivan made sure the showbiz in Uganda is enjoyed. He formed a group Rich Gang which headed at the time of his death.
The splashy Tycoon will be laid to rest today Tuesday 30th May 2017 at his ancestral home in Kayunga.
Early Life
Ivan Semwanga was born on 12th December 1977 to George Semwanga Pinto Lutaaya and Liize Semwanga, both deceased.
He is a grandson to the late Pinto Katula Lutaya Semwanga, who was a prominent businessman in Nakaliro, Kayunga town council.
Semwanga grew up in Kayunga before he moved to his grandfather’s place in Mengo, Kampala.
He went to Bishop Brown Primary School before joining Kanjuki S.S. and later Central Academy for his secondary school education.
Moving to South Africa
After venturing in several businesses in Kampala, Ivan would later move to South Africa in pursuit for greener pastures.
Moving to South Africa turned out well for him as he accumulated wealth and started up several businesses including a chain of schools (Brooklyn Colleges) and real estates.
Family Life
Ivan Semwanga was married Ugandan socialite Zari Hassan Kirigwajjo in a traditional wedding and together they were blessed with 3 sons.
In 2015 Zari broke up with Semwanga and got married to Tanzanian singer Diamond Platnumz, with whom she has 2 children now.
Ivan Semwanga was the leader of a group of socialites called the Rich Gang. The other members of the group were Ed Cheune and his cousin, Lawrence Senyonjo popularly known as King Lawrence.
The group was known for throwing flamboyant parties and dishing out money every December when they returned to Uganda for the festive season.
City party goers have described Ivan as “a man that brought life to showbiz in Kampala”. Many people always wanted to hang out at the same nightspot at Ivan.
Despite living a lavish lifestyle, he donated generously to the needy both in Uganda and in South Africa.
According to Ugandans in South Africa, Ivan gave money to poor women and children, also helped his fellow Ugandans in Madiba land whenever they faced challenges.
Semwanga on several occasions gave money to poor children and women in South Africa
Earlier this year, Ivan topped headlines in South African newspapers because of his charity work. The newspapers dubbed him ‘MOREKI’ which means ‘blesser’ and also referred to him as a prophet.
During his recent and last visit to Uganda in April, Semwanga and his group paid a courtesy visit to M-lisada orphanage center in Nsambya, where they donated money and other household items to the less-privileged children.
Semwanga donated money and other household items to the less-privileged children at M-lisada orphanage center in Nsambya in April 2017
Wealth
Although we could not confirm his actual net-worth, Ivan Semwanga was undoubtedly a very rich man.
He was the first person to bring a Lamborghini to Uganda and would later go on to acquire several other posh cars like a Hummer, Audi among others, some of which were in Uganda while others in South Africa at the time of his death.
By the time of his death, he had a chain of schools (Brooklyn Colleges) with 7 campuses allover South Africa, real estates and other businesses all in South Africa.
He left a palatial home in Waterkloof, a suburb in Pretoria, South Africa, where he lived with his children. He also left a big mansion in Muyenga, a Kampala suburb.
Semwanga passed on at the age of 39 and will be laid to rest at their ancestral home in Kayunga district.
May his soul rest in peace.
