During today’s parliamentary session to pay tribute to the late Muhammad Ssegirinya, Makindye West MP Allan Ssewanyana delivered a heartfelt speech reflecting on his two-year imprisonment alongside Ssegirinya on charges related to panga murders in Masaka.
Ssewanyana shared insights into Ssegirinya’s true character, dispelling public misconceptions about the Kawempe North legislator.
“But when I sat with him for two years, I realized something. The people had a different picture of Ssegirinya, yet he was another person,” Ssewanyana said. “Ssegirinya was seen as doing things crafted like comedy, but he was very serious in nature. He was a highly intelligent man who could predict events and genuinely cared for those he loved.”
Ssewanyana further explained Ssegirinya’s dedication to political change, attributing it to his difficult upbringing in a poor family.
“He did not oppose the leaders of this country as individuals but opposed their policies because of the struggles he endured growing up fatherless,” he said.
Addressing Ssegirinya’s health struggles during incarceration, Ssewanyana stated that the denial of bail worsened his condition.
“After only two days in prison, he began complaining of his chronic sickness. He had arranged for treatment in Germany, where a specialist from India was set to attend to him, but that opportunity was denied due to politics and denial of bail,” Ssewanyana explained.
The Makindye West legislator lamented the heavy cost the government bore for Ssegirinya’s late treatment, which amounted to Shs900 million.
“If he had received timely medical attention, he would have facilitated his own care, and he might be alive today,” he said.
“He was a courageous man who went through hell to provide for his children and his mother. His passing is a great loss to his family and the nation,” Ssewanyana concluded.
