
This is early… a bit to early, but it has to be addressed. As the ones remaining alive and the ones who are eager will fight for the open seat in Kawempe North. The late Hon. Muhammad Ssegirinya will be exchanged for someone else. That is the nature of things. We just have to reconcile with that.
Alas, as this is given. The General Election of 2026 is scheduled for the 12th January 2026. So, whenever the Electoral Commission schedules the By-Election it will be mere months before the General Election. Meaning this By-Election is close to pointless and insignificant at best. As the 12th Parliament seat would be more valuable and have a full term.
Mr. Update should have a proper successor and have someone who honours his legacy. Someone who is bound by ideals and a will to serve his community. That would be the dream. Have someone who would ensure the hospital and all the other service delivery. Which the MP fought for and showed compassion for the constituency. That is rare and unique of the character that was Ssegirinya MP. We shall never forget that and his name will be remembered.
Nevertheless, the seat is up for grabs. People will take their stake in it and try to forge their way into Parliament. There will be a competition of both activists and stalwarts who wants to get ahead.
If the National Unity Platform (NUP) was wise here. They would actually not field anyone at this current stage. Just boycott it and act like Mr. Update is the MP for the remaining time. Then later hold Party Primaries and ensure someone is ready, popular and has the message the Kawempe North deserves.
We know the National Resistance Movement (NRM) wants to signal their return and they cannot help to make by-elections look like war-zones. The NRM needs to make it seems like it has momentum and massive electorate on its side ahead of the General Elections. That’s why they will use this and try to humiliate the opposition. Even ensure a few NRM leaning Independents with a little heart and finesse participate too. Just to dilute the chance of an opposition candidate to win.
This here is unfortunate. The people of Kawempe North had a winner and a man of steel. The Kawempe North had a hero and a man of the people. That’s who they had and he shouldn’t be gone this early. Mr. Update should have lingered on and become a man of the hour. He should have had time to build and create. However, that wasn’t the wishes of the state and they destroyed him completely. Therefore, he was pronounced dead today….
I don’t want to see a Kawempe North By-Election. Parts of me wants to boycott it completely and not even write this. Nevertheless, the ice-cold facts are here. This should be a year of reflection and the NUP should revise a proper strategy ahead of the 2026. Not run on vibes in the quickest race before the General Election. They shouldn’t take the risk of heredity politics either. No, they should just wait for the current and try to make a solid foundation for 2026. That’s if they want someone proper and with heart to takeover. Not just some run-of-the-mill character that wears the red-beret and sings the psalms of the day.
Kawempe North deserves better. They lost their hero and it’s just a massive tragedy. He was special, unique and was who people wants to see as their leader. He had morals, social compass and an ability to engage that others wants to emulate, but you cannot just copy that. That is something he was born with and that’s why he was beloved.
This By-Election is sort of pointless. It won’t bring a change or be pivotal. For others than headlines that the government will use against the opposition. That’s why the opposition and the NUP especially should be wiser. Not fall into the traps and get dirty. It should be better. Especially, if they want to be beholden to the legacy of the late MP. Peace.










