The late MP for Kawempe North, Muhammad Ssegirinya, was laid to rest on Sunday amidst dramatic tensions between Bobi Wine’s camp and Mathias Mpuuga’s supporters.
The two factions clashed over the burial arrangements. Bobi Wine and his supporters insisted that the burial ceremony take place at Ssegirinya's ancestral home. However, Mpuuga’s camp organized a parallel event at a nearby playground, which Bobi Wine’s camp opposed.
It is alleged that Parliament, through its commission, sponsored Mathias Mpuuga to organize a state funeral for Ssegirinya. Bobi Wine objected, claiming the fallen MP had never been on good terms with the government.
Supporters from the National Unity Platform (NUP) spent most of the day stationed at the house where Ssegirinya’s body was kept. Ssegirinya’s mother reportedly pleaded with Bobi Wine to allow the body to be transported to the playground for the state funeral, but Bobi Wine refused, asserting that he could not hand over his fallen comrade to the government, which he claimed would be a betrayal.
Ultimately, Bobi Wine’s camp prevailed, and Ssegirinya’s body remained at the home, even as a parallel event was held at the playground.
Muhammad Ssegirinya, who was 37 years old at the time of his passing, left behind eight children from different mothers. He died on January 9th this year at Rubaga Hospital following a battle with a cancer-related illness.
