Biography

Ivan Semwanga (born 12 December 1977) was a renowned Ugandan-conceived South African socialite and public figure.

He was one of the self-styled Rich Gang group members well known in both South Africa and Uganda. The group is based on humanitarian and philanthropy principles, which target the less privileged youths, especially Ugandans living in South Africa.

Other members of the group are his cousin Lawrence Kiyingi, a Ugandan tycoon based in South Africa, and Eddy Kyeyune.

The Rich Gang graced several occasions both in Uganda and South Africa. Ivan Semwanga invested in numerous educational institutions.

Ivan Semwanga
Ivan Semwanga: History, Bio, Photo
Wiki Facts & About Data
Full Name:	Ivan Semwanga
Born:	12 December 1977 (age 39 years old)
Place of Birth:	Tanzania
Nationality:	Ugandan, South African
Height:	N/A
Parents:	George Semwanga Pinto Lutaaya, Liize Semwanga
Siblings:	N/A
Wife • Spouse:	Zari Hassan (m. 2011–2013)
Girlfriend • Partner:	N/A
Children:	Pinto Semwanga, George Semwanga, Dido Semwanga
Occupation:	Socialite • Businessman
Net Worth:	US$1 million – US$5 million

Early Life & Education

Ivan Semwanga was born in Nakaliro, Kayunga District. He moved to South Africa for greener pastures, and it is alleged that he worked as a ritualist in a local shrine in South Africa.

His parents were George Semwanga Pinto Lutaaya and Liize Semwanga.

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Ivan Semwanga was helping wealthy South Africans to solve their problems by dumping them on the ground and giving them holy water that would wash their troubles away. This allowed him to accumulate his wealth, and by the time of his death, he had made a fortune with a multimillion Business Empire, which included Schools (In South Africa), students’ hostels, and apartments, among others.

Ivan Semwanga was christened the ‘modern father of Showbiz’ in Uganda because he gave a new look to the socialite scene. All the current socialites in Uganda learnt the game from Ivan.

Ivan Semwanga married Zari Hassan, and they have three boys, namely Pinto Semwanga, George Semwanga, and Dido Semwanga together. In 2011, the couple organized a traditional introduction ceremony that cost over a billion Uganda shillings.

A few years later, the couple called it quits after Zari Hassan accused Ivan Semwanga of domestic violence. Zari Hassan is currently married to a Tanzanian Musician named Diamond Platnumz.

Achievements

Ivan Semwanga started the Brooklyn College, which has 6 branches spread across Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg. The colleges specialize in Information Technology, mining, and Policing services. In Uganda,

Ivan Semwanga was constructing a hotel on Sir Apollo Kaggwa road. He has several houses in Bunga, Munyonyo and Mutungo.

Combining all those projects leaves him with over Shs700m profits per month. Ivan Semwanga also had two leading houses in Sandton and Pretoria.

Munificence

Ivan Semwanga was considered to be the chairman of Ugandans in South Africa. He helped several needy people in both South Africa and Uganda. Three weeks before his death, he visited the underprivileged kids in the M-Lisa orphanage, Nsambya.

On his visit, he donated household items like bags of rice, sugar, soap, cooking oil and many other basic needs to the orphans. He also gave each orphan Ugandan Shs20,000 before returning to South Africa, where he died. 

Ivan Semwanga gave the Uganda National Football team (Uganda Cranes) Uganda Shs10m in cash during the African Cup of Nation match between Uganda and Ghana. He also promised the team Uganda Shs5m for all their scored goals. Within 90minutes, the Uganda Cranes had beaten Ghana before crossing to a penalty shoot-out.

Furthermore, Ivan Semwanga once sponsored 10 fans with all expenses from South Africa to Uganda to watch the Uganda VS Zambia game live at Mandela National Stadium (Namboole).

Cause of Death

Ivan Semwanga suffered a heart attack after leaving Uganda. Before his departure to South Africa, Ivan Semwanga helped the disadvantaged children in Nsambya and then concluded with the Blankets & Wines event together with the affluent gang members.

He was admitted at Steve Biko Hospital in Pretoria, where his ex-wife, Zari Hassan took care of him. He later died on Thursday, 25 May 2017 morning.

Burial

The deceased, Ivan Semwanga‘s body was brought back to Uganda on 28 May 2017(Sunday). That night, a vigil was held at his home in Muyenga, Uganda. His body was then taken to Namirembe Cathedral on 29 May 2017 (Monday) for church prayers before taking him to Kayunga for burial.

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Ivan Semwanga was buried on 30 May 2017 (Tuesday) in his ancestral home in Kayunga, Uganda. When still alive, he would organize parties to throw notes of South Africa Rands, Uganda Shillings and US Dollars to people. The same trick was used by the remaining Rich gang members while burying him.

So, instead of throwing handfuls of dust into his grave as it is in the Christian tradition, the Rich Gang members tossed notes of South Africa Rands, Uganda Shillings and US Dollars and Champagne in Ivan Semwanga‘s grave. Concerned citizens; Abey Mgugu and Gideon Tugume dragged A-Plus funeral management and Bank of Uganda to the High Court seeking orders that the body of late Ivan should be exhumed and all the currency notes that were buried with him removed.

They argued that the money was misused since it is legal tender. Therefore, they wanted it removed and brought back to fulfil its use. They continuously claimed that the currency of Uganda and other nations like South Africa and the United States of America should be respected and not end up being buried. 

In response, the Bank of Uganda wrote a document stating how it is no longer interested in retrieving the money buried in the grave as the money no longer serves its purpose. They noted that the money was mishandled, but then it is likely to be defaced, soiled or damaged, and so it will no longer serve the purpose for which it was intended. 

Furthermore, amendments were made to the Bank of Uganda Act because the previous one didn’t state penalizing someone who defies paper money.

Net Worth

Ivan Semwanga‘s net is estimated to be between US$1 million – US$5 million.