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Ugandan woman dies at Dubai airport
The late Zaina Nagani
KAMPALA- A Ugandan woman identified as Zaina Nagani has died after collapsing at Dubai International Airport, a friend and diplomatic source, separately confirmed last night.
“We are aware of the deceased and the government is tracing the [Ugandan labour export] company that sent her to Saudi Arabia. [This is to enable] repatriation [of the body],” Ambassador Charles Ssentongo, the chief of protocol in Foreign Affairs ministry in Kampala, said in a statement.
The 23-year-old Nagani worked as a maid in Saudi Arabia, one friend said by telephone yesterday from Dubai, and was in transit to Uganda when she collapsed and died on arrival at Dubai Hospital where her body remains in the morgue.
Officials recovered her passport number B1256893, showing she was born in Namataala, Kayunga District, and an October 7, 2016 medical discharge form, which showed she suffered from ovarian cancer.
She was earlier diagnosed with malignant pleural effusion, an advanced cancer condition that presents with fluid buildup between the lung and chest cavity.
Nagani becomes the fourth Ugandan within 13 months to die while in transit collapse, the previous three being high-ranking government officials.
They include ex-Internal Affairs minister Aronda Nyakairima who passed on in September, last year, while returning from South Korea; Ambassador Najuna Njuneki who died in July in South Africa and Agriculture ministry commissioner Micheal Odong who collapsed and died at Schipol Airport, The Netherlands, on October 23.
