Rt. Hon. Speaker and Honorable Members, I rise to second the motion to pay tribute to our comrade, the fallen Hon. Muhammad Ssegirinya, Member of Parliament for Kawempe North Constituency, who passed on after a very long battle with illness.
On behalf of the Opposition in Parliament, and on my own behalf, I wish to extend commiserations to the family of Hon Ssegirinya, the people of Kawempe North Constituency, the National Unity Platform, and indeed the entire country on the demise of the Hon Ssegirinya.
Death is such a painful aspect of life regardless of the age at which one passes on. However, losing a youthful legislator at 37 years of age, who had huge dreams and aspirations is so tragic.
Hon Muhammad Ssegirinya grew up in a humble family, and faced various challenges that shaped his life. Despite limited resources, he prioritized education and engaged in community activities.
His experiences deepened his understanding of issues affecting ordinary Ugandans, fueling his passion for activism and advocacy for a better country. Hon Ssegirinya’s journey from grassroots involvement to national recognition showcases his resilience and ability to connect with diverse people, earning him respect in Uganda’s political landscape.
Hon Ssegirinya first gained public attention through his participation in Kampala-based radio talk shows. His frequent and spirited calls to these shows earned him recognition as “Ssegirinya eddoboozi lye Kyebando,” translating to “Ssegirinya, the voice of Kyebando.”
During those radio engagements, he would refer to himself as MP-to be, and this was in the early 2000s, over 15 years before he would eventually become a legislator. This speaks of the fact that when one is resilient and steadfast, it is possible to achieve one’s aspirations.
In 2016, he was elected as the Lord Councillor for Kawempe North in Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA). He used this position to advocate for social justice and community development. His vibrant personality and commitment to grassroots issues endeared him to many. During the 2021 general elections, Hon Ssegirinya contested for the parliamentary seat of Kawempe North under the National Unity Platform (NUP) and won overwhelmingly.
He set out to serve his people in various ways, especially in the area of healthcare, filling the gap created by Government. MPs usually buy ambulances, provide healthcare and other services to their people, which is a clear sign that Government has abdicated its responsibility.
Unfortunately, not long after he had joined this August House, he was arrested and jailed for a long period, over the Bijambiya/Panga attacks on the population of Masaka region, which saw the killing of many Ugandans, and to-date justice eludes the bereaved families because the question of who killed their loved ones has never been answered.
While in prison, Hon Ssegirinya got severely sick, and his condition kept deteriorating by the day. He was constantly denied bail, even though his condition was worrisome. Even when Government doctors recommended specialized treatment for him that warranted him to be granted bail, the judge still sent him back to prison, where he continued to worsen each passing day.
After a while, Hon Segirinya was granted bail, only for him to be abducted outside Kigo prison by gun wielding men in plain clothes, in total violation of the law. This disregard for the rule of law continues unabated in our country, and as we have witnessed it affects us all including colleagues on the Government side.
We must jointly castigate this and call for its end. Many Ugandans have been abducted in similar manner, and to-date they are still missing. All this in a country which prides itself in following constitutionalism, we should be ashamed of these acts.
The denial of bail to Hon Ssegirinya feeds into the narrative by Gen. Yoweri Museveni lately. He has called for denial of bail and even police bond, something which is not in tandem with our constitutional order. While bail and bond may not be mandatory, directing judicial officers and police officers not to give them to those before them is unbecoming, and should be condemned by us all because everyone is a potential victim.
As we send off hon Ssegirinya, may we commit to respect for the rule of law, because he suffered due to disregard for the rule of law.
Of late we have seen threats by our Country’s Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba to our neighbouring countries including Kenya, South Sudan and DRC. His threats have extended to his colleagues in the military, and political leaders in this country. He for example threatened to behead and eliminate Hon Robert Kyagulanyi, a former member of this house (Parliament} and President of the National Unity Platform. This is abhorrent and unacceptable.
While the state continues to disregard these issues and trivialize them, the Country suffers disregard for the rule of law. All right thinking Ugandans should strive for constitutionalism and respect for our country’s laws, something Hon Ssegirinya was very passionate about. Rest in peace Hon Muhammad Ssegirinya (Mr. Update).
Joel Ssenyonyi (MP) is the Leader of Opposition in Parliament
More on this story: On Friday, January 10, Parliament held a special sitting to pay tribute to Ssegirinya. However, most Museveni ministers and MPs refused to attend. MP Abdu Katuntu had to be the acting prime minister for a few minutes and moved the motion to honour Ssegirinya. (See Details Here and There).
Also, Uganda Law Society (ULS) President Isaac Ssemakadde is under fire and being blasted by a section of Ugandans after he thanked Speaker Anita Among for Muhammad Ssegirinya seat, as reported Here
Museveni Minister: God Decided Muhammad Ssegirinya’s Time to Die; Shut Up, Stop Blaming His Death on Prolonged Imprisonment
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