Uganda Law Society (ULS) President Isaac Ssemakadde has come under fire after he thanked Speaker of Parliament for allowing Muhammad Ssegirinya keep his Kawempe North MP seat despite being sick for long.
Ssegirinya was pronounced dead on Thursday, January 09, 2025, at Lubaga Hospital in Kampala.
In a tribute to the fallen legislator, Ssemakadde, who is expected to be banging tables of leaders and holding them accountable for their actions or inactions, had something to thank the speaker for.
In sickness, Ssegirinya missed over 15 consecutive parliamentary sittings and could have lost his MP seat if Speaker Anita Among had insisted on following the rules to oust him and called a by-election to fill his seat.
But she turned a blind eye on him and his absence from the House despite his being a member of the opposition while she is from the ruling NRM party.
In his statement, Ssemakadde described Ssegirinya as “a fervent activist and champion of the marginalized.” After criticizing the justice system for Ssegirinya’s woes, he praised the speaker for her kindness and understanding.
“His [Ssegirinya’s] life was cut short amidst legal battles that exposed the dark underbelly of our justice system. As we reflect on Ssegirinya’s life, we must acknowledge the grave consequences of allowing politics to distort legal processes.
This approach undermines the rule of law, erodes legal excellence, and leaves vulnerable individuals open to abuse,” he said.
“We thank the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Anita Among, for her compassion and understanding that allowed him to maintain his seat in Parliament, even as he battled health complications.”
Some people reacted to Ssemakadde’s statement, saying they were surprised. For example, a one @ZeeroBrain on X recalled his 2024 claims that Speaker Among had backed Ssemakadde’s ULS presidential bid.
“When I said that Ssemakadde was being funded by the Speaker people thought it was far fetched… anyways time is all we have,” he posted.
“When Chris Obore endorsed Ssemakadde…. I knew the Speaker was backing him. They Bang Tables during the day but at night they are eating with the hyenas.”
A special sitting to honour Ssegirinya happened at Parliament on Friday, but most Museveni ministers and MPs refused to attend, to the extent that MP Abdu Katuntu had to be the acting prime minister for a few minutes and moved the motion to pay tribute to Ssegirinya. (See Details Here and There).
Meanwhile, Ssemakadde and activist Agather Atuhaire were involved in a war of words, as they banged each other’s tables. (See Details and Related Reporting Here and There).
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