William Muwonge, "Chess' Zabasajja is Dead," New Vision, 13 December 2006 (Kampala, Uganda).

WILLY Zabasajja, one of biggest names of Ugandan chess, is dead.

Zabasajja, in his 40s, failed to recover from a stroke he suffered over three weeks ago. Uganda Chess Federation (UCF) chairman Joe Kaamu mourned Zabasajja, saying the late had established himself as a good player.

"We will always miss him, he was a skilled player," Kaamu, who had many battles on the board with Zabasajja explained.

Zabasajja built a legacy as a tough player who won over seven national championship titles. The Kampala-based player also competed in a number of international events including the Olympiad where he made three appearances.

Zabasajja was not only a household name in Uganda but in all of the East Africa region. The soft-spoken former player made an impact in events in Kenya and Tanzania, and also helped many talented youngsters improve their game. He had taken a break from the game but had recently made a positive comeback.

Posted by The Chess Drum: 16 December 2006