At the burial of his elder brother, Dr. John Spire Kiggundu, renowned cartoonist and academic Dr. Jimmy Spire Ssentongo delivered one of the most heartfelt and emotional speeches of the day—left mourners reflecting deeply about quiet battles we carry inside.
Standing before a packed congregation at the family’s ancestral home in Butozi, Masaka, Dr. Jim Spire—visibly shaken—recalled the close bond they shared, both as brothers and as friends. He spoke of a man whose presence was loud in action but quiet in speech, someone who lived a life of quiet sacrifice and tireless service to others.
“My brother feared death. Deeply. Every time we spoke, he would always say, ‘You will probably go before me because of what you do.’ And yet here we are. He has gone first. It’s a reality I am still struggling to accept,” Spire said, his voice cracking.
He spoke not only of Kiggundu’s brilliance as a medical professional, but also of the emotional burden he carried silently, often putting everyone else before himself.
“He saved lives. He brought joy into families that had given up on ever having children. But even in his own pain, he didn’t cry out for help. He didn’t want to burden us. And maybe that’s what hurts most—that he carried it alone.”
Dr. Jim also addressed the rumors and speculation that spread after his brother’s sudden death, calling for sensitivity and compassion during such painful moments.
“People are too quick to spread stories before they understand the pain those stories cause. My brother died of natural causes. That’s what the postmortem says. Please, let us respect his memory and his family,” he said firmly.
Towards the end of his speech, Dr. Jim Spire Ssentongo vowed to preserve his brother’s legacy—not as a gynecologist or hospital director, but as a kind, humble, and selfless human being who gave his life to helping others.
“Rest well, brother. You loved football so much thats why we put an Arsenal Jersey on his Casket after his death, this is how we are saying Goodbye to him with something he really loved so much.”
Watch the ceremony below:
