Basketball teenager Maxine Anyango will be laid to rest on Sunday, St Noa Girls School has confirmed.
Anyango passed away on Thursday while undergoing surgery for a knee injury she sustained during the recently concluded National Schools Games in Mukono.
The 18-year-old had represented Uganda at both senior and youth national basketball team level in international competitions.
St Noa confirmed that her body was taken to Mulago National Referral Hospital for a postmortem examination. A church service will be held at the Catholic Church in Kamwokya before her burial on Sunday at her ancestral home in Tororo.
•Maxine Anyango: Basketball Teenage star passes away
The Injury
Anyango sustained the injury in the first quarter of the semifinal against Nabisunsa during the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association basketball championship last week.
St Noa, the defending champions, went on to win the semifinal 53-39 and progressed to the final.
It is reported that several schools had earlier raised concerns about the newly constructed courts at hosts Seroma Christian High School, preferring matches to be played at UCU Mukono where most of the boys’ games had taken place.
However, organisers insisted that the semifinals and finals be played at Seroma’s courts because the school was hosting the tournament.
St Noa also lost Resty Nanangwe and Josephine Adikini to injuries during the same semifinal, but Anyango’s condition appeared more serious.
She missed the final as St Noa surrendered their title to St Mary’s Kitende.
“I went there during the final and the court was slippery. But new courts can behave like that at first, especially if they are not properly done. They usually improve with time,” one official told this website.
Anyango was discharged last week and a surgery for a torn Patela tendon was scheduled in a week-time then.
“She was doing fine afterwards. In the morning, she even posted a video of herself dancing, on her status,” a close friend said.
The player was taken to HD Orthotics hospital in Nakasero (behind Ministry of Heathly) for Surgery on Thursday.
A relative said complications reportedly began after she was administered an injection (should be spinal anesthesia), a procedure used to numb the lower part of the body before surgery.
“She screamed in pain and cried for several minutes before her body went into shock,” the relative claimed.
She was later rushed to Case Clinic and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), but efforts to save her were unsuccessful.
The medical viewpoint
As the public awaits the official postmortem report from Mulago Hospital, this website sought the opinion of a medical expert regarding possible causes of such a tragedy.
Whenever incidents like this occur, many people ask the painful question: “How can someone die during surgery that was not even for the heart or brain?”
To many, a knee operation appears routine. But medically, anesthesia and surgery are never entirely risk-free.
“Deaths related to anesthesia or surgical preparation are rare in modern medicine, especially among young and healthy patients. But when they happen, they are usually caused by a chain of complications rather than one simple mistake,” a surgeon at Mulago told this website.
“Many people think surgery begins when the surgeon picks up a scalpel. In reality, some of the most critical moments happen before the first cut.”
Before surgery, doctors typically assess:
- Heart function
- Lung function
- Blood levels
- Allergies
- Previous reactions to anesthesia
- Airway anatomy
- Hidden infections
- Risk of blood clots
“Even a young athlete can have an undetected medical condition. Some people carry silent heart rhythm disorders, hidden clotting abnormalities, or genetic reactions to anesthetic drugs that may never appear until surgery day,” the doctor explained.
What can go wrong?
According to the doctor, deaths surrounding anesthesia or surgery preparation generally fall into several categories.
“A patient may appear healthy but still have an enlarged heart, undiagnosed arrhythmias, congenital heart disease, severe asthma, or clotting disorders.
“Young athletes in particular can sometimes carry silent cardiac conditions that only reveal themselves under physical or medical stress.”
The doctor added that sports injuries involving the leg or knee can increase the risk of blood clots due to reduced movement.
“A clot can travel to the lungs suddenly, causing collapse, severe oxygen loss, or cardiac arrest. This can happen before surgery, during surgery, or shortly afterwards.”
He also noted that some patients experience rare reactions to anesthetic medication, including:
- Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis)
- Malignant hyperthermia
- Sudden cardiovascular collapse
“Malignant hyperthermia, for example, is a rare inherited condition where the body’s metabolism spirals out of control after exposure to certain anesthetic drugs. It can become fatal very quickly if not identified immediately.”
The doctor further explained that one of the greatest fears in anesthesia is a “can’t intubate, can’t ventilate” scenario.
“Even experienced anesthetists can encounter unexpected airway anatomy where the breathing tube cannot pass, oxygen levels begin dropping, and the heart becomes unstable.
“These situations are rare but extremely dangerous.”
He added that a patient who has suffered trauma may already be physiologically stressed before surgery.
“Pain, dehydration, internal bleeding, infection, or electrolyte imbalance may worsen under anesthesia. Sometimes the body simply fails to tolerate the stress.”
The possibility of human error
The doctor acknowledged that medicine, despite strict protocols, still involves human beings.
“Errors can occur through wrong medication dosage, delayed recognition of deterioration, equipment malfunction, or communication breakdown,” he explained.
“Modern operating theatres use checklists and monitoring systems precisely because medicine recognises human fallibility.”
He concluded:
“As doctors, we always say anesthesia and surgery-related deaths are rare, especially among young patients, but rare does not mean impossible. There may be hidden heart conditions, blood clots, unexpected reactions to anesthesia, or sudden complications that cannot easily be predicted even after preparation.
“Surgery is never completely risk-free, even for what appears to be a routine injury. Cases involving young athletes are especially painful because they are usually healthy and active, so when such a tragedy happens, it deeply affects both the family and the medical team.”
The Official Statements:
A statement from USSSA reads in part: “The President of the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA), Justus Mugisha, is deeply saddened by the passing of St Noa Girls School player, Maxine Modesta Anyango.”
“On behalf of USSSA and the school sports fraternity, Mr Mugisha conveys his heartfelt condolences to St Noa Girls School, the Federation of Uganda Basketball Association, to the family of Maxine Modesta Anyango, and to the people of Uganda.”
St Noa statement reads: “It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved student and friend, Anyango Maxine.
She passed away peacefully this evening, surrounded by her cherished family.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude for the love and prayers you have shown during her illness.”
FUBA statement reads; “It’s with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Maxine Anyango Modesta, a Gazelle and student of St. Noa, who passed away earlier today.”
“The basketball world has lost a bright young talent far too soon. Rest in eternal peace, Maxine.”
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