Veteran opposition MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda has conceded defeat to NUP’s George Musisi in Kira Municipality, ending his 15-year parliamentary tenure but vowing to continue political activism outside Parliament.
Preliminary results from the 2026 elections indicate a significant shrinkage of opposition numbers in Parliament, dropping from 106 MPs in the previous House to about 78 in the incoming 12th Parliament. Ssemujju warned that the loss of seasoned legislators would be keenly felt in legislative debates and oversight.
“In Kira, the Opposition celebrated the defeat of an Opposition candidate rather than the ruling party,” he remarked, suggesting that internal shortcomings within opposition ranks played a role in the outcome.
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Reflecting on his long service, Ssemujju said the people of Kira Municipality had entrusted him with leadership for a decade and a half, and that the election outcome may signal their desire for a new chapter.
“They gave me 15 years. Perhaps they now believe it is time for me to step aside,” he said.
Despite losing his seat, Ssemujju maintained that his commitment to democratic reform remains unchanged, stressing that his activism will now take a different form.
“I will continue contributing to the struggle for freedom, but this time outside Parliament,” he said.
He also attributed some of the opposition’s difficulties to structural and organizational challenges, particularly within newer political formations. Speaking about the People’s Progressive Front (PFF), he noted that the party entered the election under difficult circumstances.
“We went into the election with our leader in prison, without resources, and largely on our own,” he said, referring to PFF leader Kizza Besigye.
Musisi’s victory signals a major political shift in Kira Municipality, an area that had long been considered Ssemujju’s stronghold. Polling areas such as Kirinya and Kasokoso, previously loyal to Ssemujju, returned strong results for Musisi.
Musisi’s campaign focused on grassroots engagement, characterized by door-to-door outreach, small community meetings, and direct interaction with voters. Analysts say his approachable style, coupled with deliberate engagement of women voters, helped him build broad-based support.
Some residents cited Ssemujju’s reduced physical presence in the constituency in recent years, as well as perceptions of complacency, as factors that worked against him. Others pointed to voter fatigue after his long stay in Parliament, arguing that constituents were eager for new leadership.
Ssemujju first won the Kira Municipality seat in 2016 after it was carved out, securing more than 70 percent of the vote and defeating NRM’s Juliet Najjuma by a wide margin. In 2021, he overcame the National Unity Platform wave by defeating Ji Lukwago, again by tens of thousands of votes.
The 2026 election, however, marked a decisive turnaround, with Musisi emerging victorious and highlighting the evolving political landscape of Kira Municipality.
written by @enock katamba
- Mr. katamba Enock: Professional designer with experience in web designing who started this activity in 2022 at Kyambogo University . Contact me on : (+256-758287080)
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