Drama Unfolds as NUP Rejects State Funeral for Ssegirinya.

The final send-off of Kawempe North MP, Muhammad Ssegirinya, was marred by scenes of drama and controversy, highlighting the tensions surrounding the deceased’s life and political affiliations.

The unrest began when the National Unity Platform (NUP) party, led by its president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, commonly known as Bobi Wine, rejected the official state funeral arrangements that had been organized by parliament.

On Saturday evening, Ssegirinya’s body was brought to his ancestral home in Butale Cell, Nyendo-Mukungwe Division in Masaka city, in preparation for his burial scheduled for Sunday. However, the situation took a dramatic turn when a group of NUP supporters, often referred to as “foot soldiers,” appeared at the scene. The supporters, expressing their displeasure, fiercely blocked the funeral procession from taking Ssegirinya’s body to the designated state funeral venue.

The funeral arrangements had been coordinated by the organizing team, headed by Nyendo-Mukungwe MP Mathias Mpuuga, who had selected a community playground located approximately three kilometers from Ssegirinya’s home as the venue for the service. According to Mpuuga, the decision was made in consultation with the deceased’s family, with the aim of providing ample space for the gathering.

However, as the police brass band began their procession to transport Ssegirinya’s body, the crowd of NUP supporters erupted in anger, blocking the path and creating chaos. The situation escalated into physical confrontations, with several individuals sustaining injuries during the ensuing fistfights. Despite the clash, the organizing committee stood by its decision to hold the funeral service at the playground, asserting that the location was ideal for the large number of mourners expected.

The incident underscored the underlying political divisions within the country, as Ssegirinya’s life and death continue to be a source of contention within Uganda’s political landscape. The tension surrounding his final send-off reflects broader issues within the NUP, with the rejection of the state funeral arrangements marking a dramatic moment in the ongoing struggle for political power and influence in the country.

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