Kampala, Uganda | Gotcha News Uganda | The family of Kawempe North Member of Parliament, Muhammad Ssegirinya, has received approval from Muslim leaders to lay him to rest on Sunday. This decision allows time for Parliament, constituents, and family members abroad to pay their final respects.

Ssegirinya died this morning at Rubaga Hospital in Kampala. In a programme released by National Unity Platform, its president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine announced that the party will hold a farewell for the departed member at its headquarters in Makerere Kavuule. This will be followed by an overnight vigil in respect of the late legislator.

“Muhammad Ssegirinya was a devoted Muslim who esteemed his faith to the core. To that effect, his will and his family had wished, and the Muslim leadership allowed the event to accommodate the brotherly abroad attendees,” Kyagulanyi revealed.

Arrangements for the funeral are as follows: The body of Ssegirinya will first be taken to Parliament on Friday for a sendoff by legislators. Later, prayers will be held at Mbogo-Kawempe Mosque. He will finally be laid to rest on Sunday in his ancestral home in Masaka.

Political Tributes Pour In

The Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi hailed Ssegirinya as a pragmatic leader whose enviable passion and relentless drive injected energy into Ugandan politics.

“He was a leader whose actions spoke for him, far as compared to mere rhetoric. His no-nonsense approaches changed the lives of many people,” noted Ssenyonyi.

Erias Lukwago, Kampala’s Lord Mayor, blamed the government for Ssegirinya’s tragic death, saying it had failed to attend to his needs while in prison.

“The authorities must be held accountable for denying him proper medical care when he needed it most,” Lukwago said.

Residents of Kawempe North expressed their sadness as they described Ssegirinya as a rare and committed politician. Many cited his unprecedented ability to deliver on campaign promises in record time, a trait that endeared him to his constituents.

The Journey of “Mr. Update”

Muhammad Ssegirinya, popularly known as “Mr. Update,” rose through the ranks through fearlessness in activism, being a frequent caller on many radio talk shows, condemning government excesses, and advocating for ordinary Ugandans.

His activism paved the way for his political life. Ssegirinya first served as a councillor at Kampala Capital City Authority, KCCA, under the FDC banner, before joining the People Power Movement that morphed into the National Unity Platform.

In 2021, Ssegirinya won the Kawempe North parliamentary seat on a NUP ticket. However, his journey into politics was not without hurdles. Barely a few months after he was elected, serious legal battles faced him. He spent one and a half years in prison on charges linked to the Masaka machete killings, something that up to now remains very controversial.

Health Struggles and Injustice

He suffered a critical decline in his health while in prison. Since he left prison, Ssegirinya has been shuttling between hospitals, attending to a condition many blame for partial failure on the part of medical attention while in prison.

Some locals and political commentators in Kampala and its surroundings expressed condemnation over what they termed the state’s seeming laxity on assurances of his health.

“His death is a painful reminder of the systemic injustices that continue to plague our country,” said one resident in Kawempe.

A Legacy of Service

This notwithstanding, Ssegirinya’s merits to his country and community shall remain beyond question. His preoccupation with grass-root development coupled with an relentless pursuit for the rule of law earned him admiration by many. “He tried to develop education, health, and infrastructure facilities in Kawempe North,” his constituents noted.

As the final preparations for his last journey get underway, Uganda plunges into mourning for a bold and visionary leader. Ssegirinya’s story reminds one of the sacrifices that men and women make when they dare to challenge the status quo.

His abiding legacy of service, resilience, and advocacy will continue to inspire generations to come. Rest in peace, Muhammad Ssegirinya, the voice of the people and a true son of Uganda.