Renowned lawyer and long-serving politician Medard Ssegona has accepted defeat in the recent parliamentary elections, losing his Busiro East seat to independent candidate Emmanuel Magoola, who is aligned with the National Unity Platform (NUP).
In a video shared on social media, Ssegona said he will be stepping away from the public spotlight.
“I am joining private life, where I will focus on leading my family,” he said.
He added that he intends to maintain relationships with the friends he made during his 15 years in Parliament.
“We shall continue to do a lot together, God willing. I will keep serving my country, just in a different way,” Ssegona said.
He also congratulated the winner, wishing him success in representing Busiro East.
Ssegona expressed gratitude to the people of Busiro East for entrusting him with three terms in Parliament.
This election followed a split with NUP, after Ssegona failed to secure the party’s nomination for a fourth term. NUP initially endorsed Mathias Walukagga, who was later disqualified by the Electoral Commission for failing to meet the minimum academic requirements. Walukagga subsequently backed Magoola, who won the seat with 35,361 votes, while Ssegona came third with 4,503 votes.
Ssegona’s fallout with NUP had been brewing for years. Tensions escalated when he refused to oppose the controversial Shs1.7 billion “service award” given to then-Leader of Opposition Mathias Mpuuga and three parliamentary commissioners—a move that divided the party. Ssegona also openly criticised NUP’s later decision to drop Mpuuga from the Parliamentary Commission, citing corruption and lack of transparency, further straining his relationship with party leadership.
Having served in Parliament since 2011, Ssegona now turns to private life, leaving behind a political career marked by both achievements and principled stands.
