After 15 Years in Parliament, Ssemujju Concedes Kira Seat to NUP’s Musisi

Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1230 EAT on Monday 19 January 2026

Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Concedes Defeat to NUP’s George Musisi After 15 Years
Kira Municipality Member of Parliament Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda has conceded defeat in the January 15, 2026, parliamentary elections, as National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate George Musisi secured the seat, ending Ssemujju’s long tenure in the constituency.

Speaking on NBS Morning Breeze on Monday, Ssemujju acknowledged that his loss was legitimate but voiced concerns over what he termed widespread irregularities affecting opposition candidates across Uganda.

“In my constituency, it wasn’t the NRM that celebrated the removal of an opposition candidate—it was the opposition itself,” Ssemujju said, attributing the loss to internal divisions and setbacks within opposition ranks. His comments underscored the deepening challenges within opposition politics as the country heads into a new parliamentary term.

Opposition Representation in Parliament Declines as Ssemujju Concedes Defeat
The latest election results have underscored a significant decline in opposition representation in Uganda’s Parliament, with the number of opposition MPs dropping from 106 in the previous House to approximately 78 in the new Parliament, according to provisional tallies.

Reflecting on the loss of several prominent opposition lawmakers, Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda warned that Parliament would feel the absence of experienced legislators who did not return.

“The people of Kira Municipality gave me 15 years in Parliament. Maybe they see this as the time for me to step away,” Ssemujju said, acknowledging the changing political landscape.

Despite his defeat, Ssemujju expressed his continued commitment to political activism and the broader struggle for democratic reforms. While his role will no longer be within Parliament, he emphasized that his work for democratic change would persist outside its walls.

Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, Kira Municipality’s long-serving MP, has vowed to continue his fight for democratic reforms despite his defeat in the January 15, 2026, parliamentary elections. Speaking after his loss to National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate George Musisi, Ssemujju told NilePost, “I will continue contributing to the struggle for freedom, but this time outside Parliament.”

Ssemujju attributed part of the opposition’s electoral challenges to structural weaknesses, particularly within newer political formations. “We are a new party, PFF. We went into this election with our leader in prison, without money, and the PFF leader was on his own,” he said, referring to People’s Progressive Front (PFF) leader Kizza Besigye.

Musisi’s victory marks a significant political shift in Kira Municipality, a constituency where Ssemujju had previously enjoyed strong support. Areas once considered his strongholds, such as Kirinya and Kasokoso, delivered impressive results for Musisi, reflecting the shifting political dynamics.

Musisi’s campaign strategy centered on grassroots mobilization, with door-to-door engagements, small community meetings, and direct voter interactions. Political analysts suggest that his approachable style, particularly his outreach to women voters, played a key role in his success.
Some residents noted Ssemujju’s reduced physical presence in the constituency in recent years, while others cited what they perceived as growing arrogance as contributing factors to his loss.

Additionally, voter fatigue after 15 years of Ssemujju’s tenure was seen by many as a driving force behind the change, with the electorate yearning for new leadership.

Ssemujju first secured the newly created Kira Municipality seat in 2016, winning more than 70 percent of the vote and defeating NRM candidate Juliet Najjuma by a margin of about 30,000 votes. In the 2021 elections, he withstood the National Unity Platform wave, defeating NUP’s Ji Lukwago by roughly 28,000 votes.

However, the 2026 election marked a decisive reversal, with Musisi clinching the seat by a clear margin, highlighting the evolving political landscape in the region.

Credit to NilePost.

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