TAKEAWAYS

• Pastor Mondo Mugisha sparked a media firestorm by claiming that the late business mogul Ivan Semwanga is actually alive and hiding.
• Mondo alleged that Semwanga fled to start a secret new life because he knew his children were safe from those pursuing him.
• Ivan Semwanga reportedly passed away in May 2017 after an eleven-day stay at a hospital located in South Africa.

Self-styled man of God Pastor Mondo Mugisha has joined the growing controversy surrounding the death of businessman and socialite Ivan Semwanga, claiming that the late tycoon is still alive and hiding from the public.

In a video shared on TikTok, Mondo alleged that he knows where Semwanga is hiding, suggesting that the businessman chose to disappear rather than face what was being demanded of him.

“There is no way Semwanga would have failed to hide from what they were demanding from him,” Mondo suggested.

The pastor further claimed that Semwanga deliberately distanced himself from his former partner, Zari Hassan, and started a new life elsewhere. According to Mondo, Semwanga knows that his children are safe and therefore has no reason to return.

However, Mondo did not explain how he obtained this information or provide evidence to support his claims.

The remarks come days after journalist Simon Kaggwa Njala reignited questions about Semwanga’s death in South Africa in May 2017. Njala questioned the circumstances surrounding the reported hospital admission and called for the release of the businessman’s postmortem report.

His comments prompted a strong response from Zari, who insisted that Semwanga died and that his remains were returned to Uganda for burial.

“We, the bereaved, know that he died; we confirmed, zipped up the body bag, and worked on the paperwork to return his remains to Uganda,” Zari said.

She also maintained that a postmortem examination was conducted in Uganda and that Semwanga’s sons participated in preparing their father’s body in accordance with cultural traditions.

Zari dismissed Njala’s continued inquiries, questioning why he was revisiting the matter years after the businessman’s death.

Semwanga, who was widely known for his flamboyant lifestyle and association with the Rich Gang social group, died in May 2017 after reportedly spending about 11 days in hospital in South Africa.

While Mondo’s claims have added another dimension to the debate, he has presented no verifiable evidence that Semwanga is alive. The allegations remain unsubstantiated.