Man Loading Shopping Items Collapses, Dies in Public

KAMPALA — A routine shopping trip ended in tragedy on Saturday when a man collapsed and died while loading groceries into his vehicle near a busy market, shocking onlookers and sparking widespread public concern.

The incident, which was captured on video and later circulated widely on social media, shows the man lying motionless beside a silver Toyota (registration number UBK 765Y) with its boot open and filled with shopping items. Several people, including police officers and market vendors, are seen standing nearby along a muddy roadside lined with motorcycles and stalls. No immediate medical assistance is visible in the footage.

Activist and academic Stella Nyanzi later identified the deceased as her cousin, David Kitagenda Magezi, in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

“It is with deep shock that I announce the sudden death of my gentle cousin David Kitagenda Magezi, whose video is circulating on social media as people try to identify him,” Nyanzi wrote.

“He collapsed and died while putting his shopping into the boot of his car.”

Nyanzi described Magezi as the eldest son of the late Frederick F. Magezi, former Executive Director of the National Insurance Corporation, and Marjorie Magezi. The family resides in Muyenga Tank Hill, Kampala. Magezi was a hotel manager and a devout Christian, remembered by family and friends as kind, attentive, and service-oriented.

“Always smiling, always attentive while listening to others speak, David was a very gentle soul whose preoccupation was serving the needs of others,” Nyanzi added.

The incident has triggered intense debate online, with many Ugandans questioning the lack of emergency response at the scene. Several users criticized bystanders for recording the incident instead of offering help, while others called for basic life-saving skills to be taught widely.

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“Had CPR been administered in time, perhaps he would still be alive,” wrote William S. Mulumba, calling for first-aid and CPR training to be included in school curricula.

Health professionals also weighed in, urging regular medical check-ups, especially for adults over 40. Professor Valentine Ojoro encouraged the public to monitor vital signs such as blood pressure, noting that sudden collapses are often linked to undiagnosed conditions.

The incident has once again highlighted gaps in public emergency response, first-aid awareness, and access to immediate medical care in crowded public spaces.

Magezi is survived by his siblings Rebecca Magezi Bukenya, Marjorie Magezi, Fiona Magezi, and Frederick Magezi.