What You Need to Know About Hon. Muhammad Ssegirinya.

The Late Hon. Muhammad Ssegirinya. Courtesy Photo.

By Anastasios Gordon Sekandi. Thursday, January 09, 2025.

Burial Programme

Thursday, January 9, 2025

● 16:00 (EAT – Till Late): Vigil at the National Unity Platform (NUP) Headquarters, Makerere Kavule, Kampala.

Friday, January 10, 2025

● 09:00: Body presented at the Parliament of Uganda for legislators to pay their respects.

● 14:00: Prayers at Mbogo Mosque, followed by an overnight vigil at his home in Kasangati.

Saturday, January 11, 2025

● Body transported to his ancestral home in Masaka.

Sunday, January 12, 2025

● Burial in Kadugala, Masaka District.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Hon. Muhammad Ssegirinya’s body arriving at the National Unity Platform (NUP) Headquarters Makerere Kavule, Kampala. Courtesy Photo.

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Brief Background

Hon. Muhammad Ssegirinya was born in 1988 in Butale, Kadugala, Masaka District, Uganda. He was the firstborn in a Catholic family of five children. Growing up in poverty, he often assisted his father, a peasant farmer, by selling sugarcane to support the family. Initially named Richard Ssegirinya, he later converted to Islam, adopting the name Muhammad.

Ssegirinya attended Kadugala Primary School, where he scored 13 aggregates in his Primary Leaving Examinations. He later joined Kadugala Secondary School and Pimba Secondary School in Kyebando for his secondary education.

According to documents he presented during his parliamentary bid, Ssegirinya held a certificate in Urban Food Experience from the Netherlands. This qualification, equivalent to the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education, made him one of the least formally educated members of Uganda’s Parliament, as noted in a report by The Observer.

Hon. Ssegirinya passed away on January 9, 2025, at the age of 37.

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Political Career

Muhammad Ssegirinya first gained recognition through frequent participation in Kampala-based radio talk shows, referring to himself as “Ssegirinya eddoboozi lye Kyebando” (Ssegirinya, the voice of Kyebando). He later became a social media sensation under the moniker “Mr. Update.”

In 2011, Ssegirinya contested for the Kawempe North parliamentary seat but lost. In 2016, he joined the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party primaries for the same seat but was unsuccessful. That year, he won a seat as a Lord Councillor representing Kawempe North at the Kampala Capital City Authority, serving from 2016 to 2021.

In 2021, Ssegirinya contested for the Kawempe North parliamentary seat on the National Unity Platform (NUP) ticket, defeating nine opponents, including incumbent Abdulatif Ssebagala Ssengendo and former Deputy Lord Mayor Sulaiman Kidandala. Although his victory was challenged in court by Kidandala, the case was dismissed, confirming him as the rightful winner.

The Hon. Muhammad Ssegirinya’s mother at the vigil held at National Unity Platform (NUP) Headquarters Makerere Kavule, Kampala. Courtesy Photo.

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Arrest, Torture, and Health Struggles

On September 3, 2021, Hon. Ssegirinya was summoned by the Uganda Police Force to appear before the Criminal Investigation Department for questioning over alleged involvement in rebel activities in the Greater Masaka region.

On September 17, 2021, he was remanded to Kitalya Maximum Security Prison on charges including three counts of murder and one of attempted murder. No evidence was ever presented to substantiate these allegations, leading many to believe that Ssegirinya and his fellow opposition MP Allan Ssewanyana were targeted for their popularity.

This incident mirrored similar arrests of opposition MPs in 2005, who were later acquitted of fabricated charges.

On February 13, 2023, Ssegirinya was released on bail. However, the torture he endured while in detention left him with severe health issues. In August 2023, he traveled to the Netherlands for specialized treatment at AMC Amsterdam. Before that, he had been in and out of hospitals in Nairobi and Kampala.

Despite his health challenges, Ssegirinya announced in August 2024 his intention to run for re-election in 2026. However, his health deteriorated, leading to his untimely death in January 2025.

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Hon. Muhammad Ssegirinya will be remembered as a fearless advocate for the underprivileged and a charismatic figure in Uganda’s political landscape.

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