News of the departed Democratic party president of 25 years and former presidential candidate came in the wee hours of Friday morning from his family members.
90-year-old Paul Ssemogerere collapsed and died at his residence in Rubaga days after suffering from an unknown illness.
Ssemogerere became DP party president in 1989 but prior to that, he had contested for the presidency, unsuccessfully challenging Uganda People’s Congress UPC’s Milton Obote in 1980.
He later contested President Yoweri Museveni as the main opposition candidate in 1996 but lost again. However, Ssemogerere had served in various governments as a minister and leader of the opposition in parliament.
Politicians have paid tribute to Ssemogerere including DP party members and those from other opposition groups.
National Unity Platform(NUP) Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine, who is in Kenya for a human rights conference, took to Twitter to honor the fallen leader.
He tweetes; “Today is a very dark day. Words cannot describe this loss. Mzee Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere stands tall amongst the giants of history. May his legacy live forever,”
Similarly, his opposition counterpart Dr. Kiiza Besigye also a four-time presidential candidate wrote ;
“[He] never rested; never got discouraged; never got bitter; never lost his gentle smile...till this morning. What a loss at a most demanding time,” Besigye wrote on his Social Media platforms.
Norbert Mao, the President General, described the late Ssemogerere as respectful to the rule of law.
“He practiced civility amidst extreme provocation by his detractors. He is clearly the best President Uganda ever had,” Mao wrote on Twitter.
