Ssegirinya’s Family Disowns Louder NUP, Praises Silent Mpuuga

In an embarrassing realism, the family of the late Kawempe North MP Muhammad Ssegirinya has publicly disowned the National Unity Platform (NUP) party, led by Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine on standing with the deceased, and instead praised the ex-LoP Mathias Mpuuga for his unwavering support during Ssegirinya’s illness and eventual death.

Ssegirinya’s mother, Justine Nakajumba, was particularly scathing in her criticism of NUP, saying that Mpuuga had been a constant source of support and comfort during her son’s illness.

“Hon. Mpuuga has extremely been there for me in saving my son’s life while in the hospital. He always checked on me, he gave me money that enabled us to take care of ourselves,” she said.

As the party was preoccupied with accusing Mpuuga of abandoning Ssegirinya, the bereaved family’s revelations have demonstrated that actually, Bobi Wine-led NUP abandoned their loved ones during his time of need.

“I ask the party’s President [Bobi Wine] to lift my son’s body because that land is ours, to take it there to hold prayers for him from a wide place and if the time comes for his burial, we shall put him at his ancestors’ burial ground,” she said, directing her comments at Bobi Wine.

Defiant Bobi

Bobi Wine, however, refused to heed Nakajumba’s directive, instead telling her that NUP was equally responsible for making decisions about Ssegirinya’s body.

“We shall never allow anybody to take him [body] away from where I am, and Mom [Ssegirinya’s mother], these people are just using you to slap us with eggs on our faces, publicly,” Bobi Wine stubbornly replied to Mzee Nakajumba.

Indeed, Bobi flanked by his foot soldiers, refused to lift Ssegirinya’s body to the playground where Parliament had organized an official burial activities for Ssegirinya. They made it a normal occasion on which they gave longer speeches largely praising Bobi Wine.

Family Shuns NUP At Home for Official Burial Activities without His Ssegirinya’s Body

At the official ceremonies’ playground presided over by Mpuuga, the family members including deceased’s children save for Ssegirinya’s mother who stayed at home protecting her son’s body from insensitive NUP leadership, anonymously appreciated Mpuuga’s support towards Ssegirinya, and his caretakers.

Scovia Nanfuka, Ssegirinya’s widow, the mother to Shifrah Naggirinya one of the children the late fondly publicly mentioned, thanked Mpuuga for his support, saying, “Hon Mpuuga sir, thank you very much for fighting to save my late husband’s life in every thin and thick. I would also like to thank Hon. Allan Ssewanyana for standing with your friend until his death.”

Ssegirinya’s sister Ruth Nayiga and brother, Bosca Kasagga Mawanda who cared for Ssegirinya alongside his mother, also expressed their gratitude to Mpuuga, saying that he had been a constant source of support and comfort during their brother’s illness.

“I thank Hon. Mpuuga. He has been there for us in all situations. He has been with us in hospitals [Nairobi] and all hospitals locally. He has been with us to the extent of funding the welfare of the sick person, and us the caretakers,” said a teary Ssegirinya’s sister.

She expressed her utmost disgust at the actions by NUP president Bobi Wine of confiscating the body of their late brother.

She said, “I wonder seeing what is going on. I cannot believe that NUP has confiscated the body of my late brother to the extent that NUP cannot allow us even access our father’s house where our brother’s body lies!”

“How can we reach this extent? We are at pains of losing our brother, and the confiscation of his body by NUP, and I believe even our brother would not like this situation. We wished him to be given a decent burial, but it’s very worrisome that his death has been politicized instead of uniting people,” she added.

She asserted, “this fracas by NUP has deeply angered us, but we would like to thank Hon. Mpuuga once again for standing with us.”

When his turn to speak came, Ssegirinya’s brother Kassagga said, “we heartily thank the Hon. Mpuuga for standing with us. He took good care of my late brother, and us as caretakers. He variously inspected us from Nairobi, Nsambya, and Rubaga hospitals. On top of the financial support, he also gave us words of courage whenever we got overwhelmed,” Kasagga said, “even if you called Hon. Mpuuga at 4:00 am, he could respond, and fix our challenges. May God reward you for us.”

The family’s public disownment of NUP is a significant blow to the party, which had been accused of abandoning Ssegirinya during his time of need. Mpuuga’s actions, on the other hand, have been hailed as a testament to his commitment to supporting his colleagues, even in the face of adversity.

As the country mourns the loss of Ssegirinya, the controversy surrounding his burial has brought to the fore the deep-seated divisions within NUP which, prioritizes playing dirty and divisive politics regardless of whom it hurts as long as they score their desired political points.

Despite conjured accusations by NUP leaders, it is clear that Ssegirinya’s family will never forget Mpuuga’s kindness and support during their time of need. As Kasagga said, “May God reward you [Mpuuga] for us.”