For most, Hon. Medard Lubega Sseggona is known to them as the man behind Bobi Wine’s temporary freedom or as the Member of Parliament for Busiro East, Wakiso district.
But for students of history, the senior lawyer is not new to the fight for justice and has himself been behind the bars for criticising the government.
On September 1, Sseggona will turn 44 years having been born in 1975. He is a managing partner at Lukwago and Co. Advocates since 2003 and has throughout his career fought for the rights of political prisoners.
For this, Sseggona was appointed Shadow Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
His mother, wife Diana Lubega and the Kabaka; are the most important people in the MP’s life. These three are the photo portraits you are likely to see in his G-Class Mercedes Benz or Parliament Office or law firm.
Arrest and torture
Sseggona’s royalty to the Buganda Kingdom and the Kabaka earned him a post in Mengo as Minister of Information/Spokesperson between 2006 and 2010. At the same time, he was lecturing Business Law at Makerere University Business School (MUBS).
The MP reveals that the worst thing that has ever happened to him is when he was locked up on the orders of President Museveni.
The Inspector General of Police, Kale Kayihura (then a Maj. Gen), said in a July 19 statement that the three faced charges of terrorism and attempts to procure firearms. Promoting sectarianism, sedition and inciting violence are the other charges.
This happened on July 18, 2008, following a series of programmes on Central Broadcasting Services (CBS FM), a Buganda kingdom-owned radio station in Kampala.
Ssegona featured on Agafa e Mengo (News from Mengo) that aired on CBS’ 88.8FM every Sunday at 9:30 pm to 10:30 pm. And his co-accused, Betty Nambooze – who then was the chairperson Buganda Civic Education Central Committee (CECC) hosted another programme; Twejukanya (let us remember) another CBS channel, 89.2 from 10 pm to midnight.
Charles Peter Mayiga, now the Katikkiro hosted the Tunuulira ebibadde mumawulire programme aired every Friday evening on CBS 89.2 and it analysed media reports.
What landed the trio in trouble with the government is their vehement opposition against the proposed Land Amendment Bill (2007). President Museveni had written to the Kabaka on December 18, 2007, accusing a certain “Mengo group” of breaching the Constitution by causing disaffection against the ruling NRM.
Gen. David Sejjusa led the raid and subsequent torture of trio. In that night, which coincided with a Buganda Conference that took place at Hotel Africana, Sseggona and team were driven to all prisons in the country.
It was then Buganda’s Research Minister, another lawyer, David Mpanga who informed the conference at around 11 am that Medard Lubega Ssegona – who was a member of the organising committee and had been scheduled to chair one of the evening sessions had been arrested.
Sseggona’s arrest built his profile and in his own words, his tormentors are regretting it.
“Museveni and David Tinyefuza are now regretting why they did such a thing. No leader could make such a decision even during the 18th century. That is why I fight for the rights of the captives because I know what happens in there,” he added.
When he is not in Court, he is playing football or volleyball or debating in Parliament. He loves reading.
“There are very many things that you must consider. I praise God, and I only submit myself to him to do his will.”
