This archive report was first published on 23 July 2019.
Ugandan socialite and Brooklyn City College CEO Zari Hassan has been grappling with the loss of her mother Halima Hassan and ex-husband Ivan 'Don' Ssemwanga, who passed away in 2017 and 2018 respectively.
On July 20, 2018, Zari announced the passing of her mother, who had suffered a heart failure at Nakasero Hospital in Uganda. In a heartfelt post on Instagram, Zari wrote, "It's with deep sorrow that my family and I announce the death of our lovely mother who passed on this morning. May her soul rest in peace, May Allah forgive you your sins and grant you Jana. You will forever be loved our Old Sun, us as your kids were given the best from God as our mother. We appreciate all you did for us. We will forever cherish you Mama. Sleep well."
Just a month after Ivan's death, Zari's mother was admitted to the hospital, and her passing left Zari with an unending grief. In a series of posts on Snapchat, Zari shared her feelings, stating that she has never been as prayerful as she currently is, and that the pain has brought her closer to God.
"Pain brings us closer to God. I've never prayed in my life like how I pray since she and Ivan passed on. I pray so hard now," Zari said in one of the posts.
Two years after her mother's passing, Zari took to Snapchat to mark the occasion, saying, "Had dua for mom, everyone is gone. Am sitting here thinking so hard. I will never heal from this. It hurts, it stings it's the most painful. She was my best friend. One I always ran to. I have so much faith now, am thankful God."
