NRM Stalwart Francis Babu’s Son, Cedric Babu, in Critical Condition—Family Appeals for Shs 1.2 Billion for Urgent Heart Transplant

Uganda Today: NRM Stalwart Francis Babu’s Son, Cedric Babu, in Critical Condition—Family Appeals for Shs 1.2 Billion for Urgent Heart Transplant

By Uganda Today Reporter

KAMPALA, Uganda | www.ugandatoday.co.ug | May 31, 2025 — Cedric Babu Ndilima, son of veteran National Resistance Movement (NRM) figure and former minister Francis Babu, is fighting for his life in the Intensive Care Unit at Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi after suffering a severe cardiac episode.

According to family sources, Cedric—who is also a celebrated former tennis star and a prominent political figure in Kampala—collapsed earlier this month while in Kigali, Rwanda, where he had traveled with his son for an international youth tennis tournament. He was immediately evacuated to Kenya for advanced medical care.

Medical experts at Aga Khan Hospital have since diagnosed him with severe heart failure, and they have recommended an urgent heart transplant as the only viable intervention to save his life. However, this life-saving operation cannot be performed in East Africa. Cedric must be medically evacuated to London to begin the transplant process.

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In a heartfelt public appeal issued by his family, they announced the launch of an online GoFundMe fundraiser to raise £300,000—approximately 1.2 billion Uganda Shillings—to cover the costs of the medical evacuation, surgical procedure, post-operative care, and other associated expenses.

“We’re writing this with urgency and hope in our hearts,” the family statement reads. “Cedric — our father, brother, son, uncle, friend, and bright light — is currently in the ICU, courageously fighting for his life after being diagnosed with severe heart failure.”

Friends, colleagues, and well-wishers from across the political spectrum, the sporting fraternity, and the Ugandan diaspora have begun rallying support for the fundraiser. On social media, messages of solidarity have poured in, urging Ugandans and global sympathizers to contribute generously to save Cedric’s life.

Cedric Babu is widely known not only for his sporting achievements as a national tennis champion but also for his foray into Ugandan politics, where he once contested for the Kampala Central parliamentary seat. He has served in various public roles and is often praised for his dedication to youth empowerment and sports development in Uganda.

His father, Capt. Francis Babu, is a revered NRM elder, having served in multiple ministerial capacities during President Museveni’s earlier governments and is a respected voice in party affairs.

The family has not disclosed the exact date of Cedric’s possible evacuation but emphasized that time is of the essence.

For those interested in contributing, the GoFundMe campaign titled “Cedric’s Heart Transplant Fund” is currently active and accepting donations.

Uganda Today will continue to provide updates on Cedric Babu’s medical journey and public responses to the appeal.

For direct contributions or inquiries, visit www.gofundme.com/f/cedrics-heart-transplant or follow @CedricHeartFund on social media.

As we were putting final touches on this story, unconfirmed reports reached us us Cedric ad passed on.