Engineer Henry Wassanyi Serukenya breathed his last after a long illness. Early this year he was diagnosed with a sick kidney.
Serukenya who has been one of the legendary figures in Uganda’s arts Industry will be laid to rest next Tuesday at his ancestral home in Bugoye, Mukono District.
Who was Eng Serukenya?
Eng Serukenya was born on 7th May 1937 in Bugoye, Kyaggwe to Temusewo Lugwama Ssabwe Sserukenya and Elunayida Nambi Namakula. He was a Composer, Playwright and Singer.
He is part of the National Theatre history where he performed his first composition as a student of the Kampala Technical School during the theatre’s opening in 1957.
Serukenya is legendary for his great musicals of the sixties especially Makula Ga Kulabako,oluyimba lwa Wankoko. He composed the Bank of Uganda Anthem and has written a good number of vocal music for choirs.
He has been a mechanic engineer specialising in road construction and heavy machines.
He went to Kampala Technical Institute (Kyambogo University) where he attained qualifications in motor vehicle technology, he later went to United Kingdom for further studies.
As an engineer; he would later work with Uganda Transport Company as an Assistant Chief Engineer, Bruce Uganda Limited, Roko Construction Company, JICA project and later Kampala City Council, among other organisations.
After retiring from active service, he set up a school in Bunamwaya which he has been running together with his wife
All his life he gave time to running the big family which he inherited from his father. He knew everyone in his extended family by name and took care to know how each one of them was fairing.
He is survived by a wife, Edith Serukenya , six children and grandchildren.
