The death of Kawempe North MP Muhammad Ssegirinya on January 9 has sparked a series of events including; a dramatic burial and the upcoming by-election to fill his position that was already declared vacant.
On Thursday, Clerk to parliament Adolf Mwesigye officially notified the Electoral commission of a vacant position and the later has 60 days to conduct a by-election.
In March this year, the two criminal charges against Ssegirinya and his co-accused Allan Ssewanyana MP Makindye West will come back to Court and their lead counsel (Elias Lukwago) is expected to inform court about Ssegirinya’s death because court had issued a production warrant against now the late Ssegirinya Muhammed.
What to expect that day; State Counsel Birivumbuka to tell trial court that State has lost interest in the case, or to continue prosecuting Ssewanyana and other co-accused which is unlikely.
In 2021, Ssegirinya and Ssewanyana were arrested and remanded to prison on charges of murder and terrorism, a period during which Ssegirinya’s health deteriorated ultimately leading to his death.
Ssegirinya, who was a member and a strong supporter of the National Unity Platform (NUP), passed away after battling illness of cancer and other illness for over three years.
His death has widened the already existing political grumblings between the party Principal Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine and the sacked deputy President of Buganda Region Hon. Mathias Mpuuga who is now replaced by Muwanga Kivumbi of Butambala constituency who also doubles as Chairman Buganda caucus.
Muwanga and other replacements are in acting capacities until a party’s delegates conference is convened in June this year.
After Lubaga hospital officially pronounced Ssegirinya dead, the following day the Speaker of Parliament convened parliament to eulogize him and many fellow MPS referred to him as a legislator who brought joy and laughter with his broken English the few months he attended court.
Prior to his death, he had spent a month in critical condition at Lubaga hospital after going through specialized treatment in Nairobi, Kenya where he was discharged in June 2024.
It was at parliament where a selected committee decided that he should be given an official decent burial and Shs 67m was set aside for this function. This money was given to Mpuuga in his capacity as a commissioner of parliament to oversee the burial and there after Dr Abed Bwanika made the day’s program where Bobi wine was to be a key speaker.
From parliament, there was a special sendoff prayer at Mbogo Mosque in Kawempe, and this is where hooliganism by NUP foot soldiers began. Respect of the whole place was thrown to dust when some disrespectful goons entered the Mosque with their shoes.
Ssegirinya’s body was later taken to NUP headquarters at Kavule where heaps of praises were raised by even those who hated him in life.
From there, the body was taken to his residence in Wakiso district in a recently constructed posh house he lived in only four days.
Here Ssegirinya’s body was kidnapped from the family members and locked in the boy’s quarters and police with the ambulance provided by parliament was denied the body.
Ugly scenes at Ssegirinya’s burial.
Whereas Ssegirinya’s mother was gagged from taking the body to a wider playground to have a decent and official send off, Mpuuga who had the official eight orphans at the playground chose to hire Kafeero, a burial music singer to play Catholic songs on a Muslim function.
When Ssegirinya’s mother Justine Nakajumba Ssanyu humbly proposed that they should take the body to the playground, hon Muwanga kivumbi did not only grab the microphone from her but also threatened her.
Some of the family relatives were beaten and denied access to their family house. No food was prepared by NUP save for the little food the mother had prepared by her meager money because Mpuuga who had the whole budget used a different venue which the NUP members shunned.
Even after failing to secure Ssegirinya’s body, Mpuuga didn’t find it important to send the orphans to burry their father but instead went on with speeches where majority of the relatives thanked him (Mpuuga) for the tireless support he gave to the deceased and the family.
When the mother was given chance to give her sendoff speech at the burial place, she thanked among others parliament for the support in paying Ssegirinya’s medical bill which amounted to approximately 800m, NUP for giving her son a flag to successfully contest for parliament, NUP General Sectary David Lewis Lubongoya for visiting them occasionally and finally heaped many praises to Mpuuga for his support; “Hon Mathias MPuuga has helped me and my son a lot, I thank him very much. He always visited us; I am so grateful to him.” Mother appreiated Hon. Mpuuga.
This did not sit well with Muwanga Kivumbi who was specifically called by the Master of Ceremony to be near this old mother and do the needful.
Muwanga disrespectfully removed the microphone from the old mother and announced;
“We are in control as NUP, the burial is going to be conducted by us as planned, speeches will go on as planned,” Muwanga said as he handed the microphone to the MC and remained standing near the seated mother to make sure she does not move.
This time other relatives were beastly abused by the foot soldiers.
In a nutshell, what happened at the burial is a reflection of lack of political tolerance and a struggle for survival. Respected individuals who were once looked up to, are now simply focusing on trivial fights like fighting for dead bodies.
When the Principal came to give his mandated five-hour speech following the later‘s demand, he donated some minutes to the “First Lady” Itungo Kyagulanyi who narrated how the late joined their camp from Magere and wondered how the orphans and widows will survive.
“Ssegirinya is not worthy your money you idiots!” Those are some of the unexpected words from Bobi Wine during his long speech he made facing Ssegirinya’s sobbing mother.
Incidentally, among others, Allan Ssewanyana who was in prison together with the deceased was also denied a microphone to say something.
Disagreements soars.
The following day, family members in a press briefing blamed the misbehavior of NUP foot soldiers and some NUP officials at the funeral and disrespecting Buganda’s culture.
“I am now left helpless with no food to feed the growing number of children (now 20 children so far) and to feed mourners still coming here. I don’t know how to feed the number of orphans who are going to be left to me as NUP officials left me with nothing; I appeal to parliament to come to my rescue,” cried Ssegirinya’s mother.
Parliament passed a proposal to deduct Shs 300,000 from each MP and about Shs 150m is expected to be raised to add on to Ssegirinya’s mandated gratuity.
The family cried to parliament to help them financially to be able to take the 20 plus orphans for DNA test. “Parliament should come in and help to begin with by taking DNA samples to prove the orphans my son left”.
Wait for part two which involve Ssegirinya’s political career, what awaits Muwanga’s six month’s tenure as acting deputy president for Buganda region and also see whether he will resolve NUP’s differences with Mengo establishment.
By; Siraje Lubwama,
Senior Investigative Journalist in crime, court land matters, human Rights.
Freelance Journalist, with Alternative Digitalk
The article is very informative and balanced.
Credit to the writer for being objective.
Thank you for taking time off to read and your appreciation isn’t taken for granted.