A prominent businessman in Uganda and East Africa at large, Kassim Omar has died after a blood clot operation in Nakasero Hospital on Tuesday.
Omar was a former President of Uganda Clearing Industry and Forwarding Association (UCIFA) and the new elected Chairman of East Africa Business Council (EABC).
Daily Monitor reports that Omar was elected as chairman of the regional private sector body in June taking over from Mr Audace Ndayizeye, of the Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Burundi.
In a communication to members of the private sector in Uganda, the chairman Private Sector Foundation of Uganda (PSFU) Mr Patrick Bitature, said: “I commiserate with the family of Kassim RIP. His premature departure is a huge loss to the business fraternity in East Africa and especially to Uganda.”
As business leader in Uganda and the region, Omar has been so passionate about seeing the plight of the business community solved through his engagements with counterparts in the region.
When he was elected in June, Omar pledged to push the private sector agenda towards creating a conducive business environment by engaging with the governments to reduce the cost of doing business in the region.
“It is shocking news! What a loss to the business community,” said Ms Jennifer Mwijukye, the managing director Unifreight and PSFU Board member.
The late Omar will be laid to rest at his home in Gayaza on Wednesday (today), according to Daily Monitor.
