Claire Chopper, a prominent journalist and media manager, has died. She passed away on Sunday morning at Devine Mercy Hospital in Mbarara, according to family sources.
At the time of her passing, Chopper was serving as the General Manager of Greater Afrikan Radio in Mbarara City. She had built a respected career in media management and journalism over the years.
In 2021, she contested for the Mbarara City Woman Member of Parliament seat but was unsuccessful. She had recently declared her intention to run again in the 2026 general elections as an independent candidate. Family friends say she succumbed to pressure-related health complications.
Her death comes at a time of profound grief within Uganda’s media fraternity, which is still grappling with the sudden and unexplained death of CBS FM journalist Jimmy Ssekabiito.
Ssekabiito, a respected reporter based in Ssembabule District, reportedly left his home on Thursday to attend a friend’s wedding scheduled for Friday, June 27, in Lubaga, Kampala. However, by Friday morning, news of his death began to circulate, shocking his family, colleagues, and listeners.
Authorities at Lubaga Hospital confirmed that he was brought in already deceased. He was reportedly transported to the hospital on a boda boda motorcycle under unclear and suspicious circumstances. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
The loss of Claire Chopper and Jimmy Ssekabiito in such a short time has left Uganda’s journalism and media community in shock and mourning, with many calling for deeper reflection on the pressures and challenges faced by media professionals today.
Additional Reporting By: Informer Uganda
